The Supreme Court on Monday termed the January 29 stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which claimed the lives of at least 30 devotees, as “unfortunate” but refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the matter. Instead, the bench directed the petitioner to approach the Allahabad High Court for relief.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, expressed concern over the incident but stated, “It is an unfortunate incident, something which is of concern. But you go to the Allahabad High Court.” The tragic stampede occurred in the Sangam area during the pre-dawn hours of Mauni Amavasya, one of the holiest days in the Hindu calendar, leaving 30 people dead and 60 injured.
The court noted the submission by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, who informed the bench that a plea regarding the incident was already pending before the Allahabad High Court. He also stated that a judicial inquiry had been initiated into the matter.
Advocate Vishal Tiwari filed the PIL under Article 32 of the Constitution on January 30, a day after the stampede. The petition sought the issuance of safety guidelines to prevent such incidents and safeguard the fundamental rights to equality and life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Key Demands of the Petition
The plea urged the Centre and all state governments to collectively implement safety measures for large religious gatherings like the Maha Kumbh. It sought:
Facilitation Centres: Establishment of facilitation centres by all states in Prayagraj to provide safety information and emergency assistance to their residents.
Signage and Multilingual Announcements: Installation of clear signage and regular announcements in multiple languages to help pilgrims navigate the event safely.
Safety Protocols Dissemination of safety protocols via SMS and WhatsApp messages to participants.
Medical Preparedness: Coordination between the Uttar Pradesh government and other states to ensure the availability of doctors and nurses at the venue.
Regulation of VIP Movement: Implementation of measures to prevent VIP protocols from disrupting public safety, prioritizing smooth crowd management over VIP convenience.
The plea emphasized the need for legal action against those responsible for negligence and called for a status report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the stampede. It also highlighted the importance of proactive safety measures to prevent future tragedies at large religious gatherings.
The petition referenced previous stampedes at Kumbh Melas, underscoring the persistent need for better crowd management. It cited the 1954 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where over 800 lives were lost due to overcrowding on a narrow bridge, as well as the 1986 Haridwar Kumbh stampede that resulted in 200 fatalities. Additionally, 39 people died and over 140 were injured during the Nashik Kumbh in 2003, while a 2013 stampede at the Allahabad railway station claimed 42 lives following a footbridge collapse.
The Supreme Court’s decision to redirect the matter to the Allahabad High Court underscores the complexity of managing large-scale events like the Maha Kumbh and highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to ensure public safety at such gatherings.