Mahakumbh Stampede 2025: Allahabad High Court Directs District Authorities to Decide Compensation Claims Within 30 Days
By Rajesh Pandey.
In a key ruling related to the tragic stampede during the 2025 Mahakumbh, the Allahabad High Court has made it clear that compensation claims must be handled by local authorities — not by the judicial inquiry panel set up by the state.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Sanjay Kumar Sharma, who lost a family member in the stampede that occurred on January 29, 2025. His plea sought ex gratia compensation for the loss.
Court Clarifies Who Decides Compensation
A division bench comprising Justices Ajit Kumar and Satya Veer Singh examined the matter and pointed out that the Judicial Inquiry Commission’s role is limited.
It is meant to investigate the causes of the incident, suggest preventive measures, and assess administrative lapses — not to decide compensation claims.
This position was also supported by an affidavit filed by the Commission’s secretary, which stated that the petitioner’s claim had already been returned to the Mela authorities with the advice that it should be decided at the administrative level.
Responsibility Lies With District Administration
The court made it clear that all compensation claims must now be submitted to the district administration.
It is the responsibility of the District Magistrate (Mela), also referred to as the Meladhikari, to verify each case and determine whether the loss occurred during the stampede.
The bench emphasised that every claim must be assessed individually, based on the documents and evidence submitted, including proof of death or property damage linked to the incident that took place on Mauni Amavasya.
State’s Stand Strengthens the Case
During the hearing, the court noted that the state government did not deny that the stampede had taken place. In fact, it acknowledged that compensation had already been paid to some victims’ families.
This, the court observed, amounts to a clear admission that there was indeed loss of life and property. Given this, the bench remarked that there was no need for the Commission to examine further whether the incident occurred in the first place.
Direction in the Present Case
In Sanjay Kumar Sharma’s case, the court found that key documents — including the inquest report prepared by a sub-inspector and the postmortem report — had not been challenged or disproved.
Taking this into account, the court directed the Meladhikari to make a decision on the compensation claim within three weeks. It also asked for a compliance report to be submitted by May 7.
A Step Towards Faster Relief
The ruling is expected to streamline the process for victims’ families, many of whom have been waiting for clarity on compensation.
By placing responsibility squarely on the district administration, the court has sought to ensure that such claims are handled more quickly and directly, without delay from procedural overlap.
For those affected by the tragedy, the hope now is that the process moves faster — and that long-pending claims finally reach a conclusion.
