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Informist, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a public interest litigation seeking directions to the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the stampede at the Maha Kumbh and initiate legal action against the persons, authorities and officials involved for negligent conduct. The apex court asked petitioner Vishal Tiwari to approach the Allahabad High Court with his plea.

 

Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, advocate Mukul Rohatgi said that a judicial enquiry into the incident was underway and a similar plea had also been filed in the Allahabad High Court.

 

"It is an unfortunate incident, something which is of concern, but go to the high court. There is already a judicial commission constituted (by Uttar Pradesh government)," said Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. 

 

At least 30 people lost their lives and nearly 60 sustained injuries in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday. The stampede occurred in the Sangam area after millions thronged the place to take a holy dip during the auspicious Mauni Amavasya.

 

The petitioner, Vishal Tiwari, asked the court to direct all states to establish in proper manner their facilitation centres for the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj. These centres should provide and display basic information regarding the safety measures and guidelines to those coming from other states, said Tiwari. The petitioner asked the court to direct state governments to arrange electronic mode messages and WhatsApp messages of the basic guidelines and safety measures to be followed by devotees so that people have easy access to information.

 

Tiwari said he had filed the petition depicting the drastic condition and fate of people due to the lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration purported by government authorities. From the 1954 Kumbh Mela stampede to the most recent one, it was clear that nothing in the administration had changed when such actions could have been avoided by taking reasonable care and upfront repair and development activity, Tiwari said.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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