Synopsis
The Supreme Court will hear a PIL on Monday seeking accountability for officials following the Maha Kumbh stampede that resulted in 30 fatalities and 60 injuries. The petition highlights administrative negligence and calls for legal action against responsible authorities.Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court to hear PIL on Maha Kumbh stampede.
- 30 lives lost, 60 injured due to negligence.
- Petition calls for accountability from officials.
- Urgent need for improved crowd management.
- Kumbh Mela events require better safety protocols.
New Delhi, Feb 1 (NationPress) The Supreme Court is set to address a public interest litigation (PIL) on Monday, which calls for legal repercussions against officials and authorities for their negligent actions that led to a tragic stampede during the Maha Kumbh. This unfortunate incident claimed the lives of at least 30 individuals and left approximately 60 others injured.
According to the causelist posted on the apex court's website, a bench comprising CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar is scheduled to review the plea submitted by advocate Vishal Tiwari on February 3.
The petition asserts that the incident highlights the dire circumstances and outcomes faced by individuals due to the failure, negligence, and total inefficiency of the administration as put forth by government officials.
In addition to the inability to maintain and supervise the situation effectively, the petition claims that the authorities also failed to manage the throng of attendees at the event.
“From the stampede at the Kumbh Mela in 1954 to the Maha Kumbh 2025 incident in Uttar Pradesh that resulted in 30 fatalities and numerous injuries, it is evident that there has been no improvement in administrative practices to prevent such mishaps. Reasonable duty of care and proactive measures could have averted these tragedies,” the petition stated.
The petition emphasized that there are frequent reports of casualties caused by overcrowding and poor management from both the administration and municipal bodies, noting that each occurrence shows that “we have not learned from past events.”
As highlighted in the petition, the Kumbh event is one of the most significant and foremost religious gatherings in the nation, making it a shared responsibility for all states to guarantee the safety and secure attendance of their residents.
“All states must step up to provide adequate facilitation, security, medical services, transportation, and other necessary amenities for their residents attending the Maha Kumbh. When such incidents occur, it is predominantly the common and impoverished individuals who fall victim,” the petition asserted.
“Numerous questions arise from this tragic stampede, particularly concerning the responsibilities and failures of the state government and municipal corporations,” it added.
The petition also pointed out that similar stampede incidents have occurred at past religious festivals, ceremonies, and events.
It requested that the Uttar Pradesh government be mandated to submit a status report regarding the Maha Kumbh 2025 stampede incident and to undertake legal actions against the relevant authorities and officials for their negligent conduct.
