The Supreme Court has declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding the immediate formation of a five-member expert committee to investigate the 2 July stampede incident in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.
The tragic event, which occurred during a religious congregation led by self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari, resulted in the deaths of at least 121 individuals, including women and children, amidst a gathering of over 100,000 attendees.
Insights:
During the hearing, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading the bench, expressed reservations about the petitioner’s choice to approach the Supreme Court directly under Article 32 of the Constitution.
“You can file the PIL before the Allahabad High Court. High Courts are robust courts, well-equipped to handle such matters,” the Chief Justice advised.
The Court denied the request to transfer the petition to the Allahabad High Court but permitted the petitioner to seek relief under Article 226 in the High Court.
The PIL called for the Uttar Pradesh government to provide a status report and take legal action against the event’s organizers and officials for alleged negligence.
It emphasized the importance of judicial intervention to protect citizens’ fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The petition underscored the persistent issue of crowd management during large gatherings, citing past incidents, including the 1954 Kumbh Mela stampede that resulted in over 500 fatalities.
It argued that the lack of administrative accountability and safety measures continues to jeopardize public safety.
In response to the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended six officials, including the Sub Divisional Magistrate and Circle Officer, following recommendations from a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Additionally, a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission has been established, chaired by retired Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastava of the Allahabad High Court, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stampede.
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