Maha Kumbh stampede: SC rejects PIL seeking safety measures for pilgrims
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking measures to ensure safety and security of people attending the world’s largest religious gathering – Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj – where at least 30 pilgrims died and over 60 got injured in a stampede on January 29.
The PIL, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, had also sought action against Uttar Pradesh officials for lapses on their part that led to a stampede.
"It is an unfortunate incident… something which is of concern, but go to the high court. A judicial commission has been constituted already," CJI Sanjiv Khanna told Tiwari, who urged the top court to intervene as such incidents were becoming regular.
On behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Government, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi told the Bench that a judicial inquiry was under way into the incident and a similar petition had been filed in the high court.
A day after the stampede at Maha Kumbh, Tiwari had filed a petition accusing the Uttar Pradesh Government of "lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration" and sought action against UP Government officials for their alleged negligence and lapses that led to the stampede.
“Direct the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report on the Maha Kumbh-2025 stampede incident that took place on January 29 and also direct it to initiate legal action against the persons, authorities and officials concerned for their negligent conduct," Tiwari submitted.
He also sought directions to state governments to prevent stampedes at crowded places like Maha Kumbh and ensure safety and security of people attending religious festivals.
“All state governments with the coordination of the Uttar Pradesh Government shall also deploy its small medical team at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, comprising doctors and nurses, so that during any medical emergency, there is no shortage of medical staff," Tiwari demanded. He wanted the top court to issue directions to ensure that VIP movements did not affect or create danger to the common devotees’ safety and maximum space for entry and exit of devotees at Maha Kumbh was provided to pilgrims.
The PIL sought directions to all states to ask their facilitation centres at Prayagraj to provide basic information regarding the safety measures and guidelines to the pilgrims.
There should be proper arrangements for announcements, display boards showing direction, roads etc in multiple languages so that people from other states don’t face problems, stated the PIL.
