State Government Tells Allahabad High Court Hearing A PIL That Term And Scope of Judicial Commission Probing Stampede Deaths Extended:

By Rajesh Pandey

On a PIL relating to the stampede in Maha Kumbh, the state government has informed the Allahabad High Court that the term of the judicial commission probing the January 29 stampede has been extended by the state government vide a notification dated February 22.

Now the scope of the commission would also include investigation of the deaths and loss of property (people and wealth) in the ambit of the investigation.

Along with this, the commission will now also look into the points as to how the Mahakumbh Mela administration coordinated with the district administration etc following the stampede.

 Further, the tenure of the Commission has also been extended for one month with effect from March 1, 2025, for concluding the enquiry proceedings, added the state government.

Earlier, at one stage, it was argued by the petitioner that the judicial commission constituted by the government had been asked to conduct a limited investigation.

 Loss of life and property were not included in it. The PIL had pointed out that the commission’s investigation only included the points of how the incident happened and how such an incident should not happen in future.

During the hearing, the state government apprised the high court that existing terms of reference had been expanded to inquire into the loss of life and property due to the stampede and to Inquire about the coordination of the Mela administration and the district administration with the health services administration regarding the loss of life and property during the stampede.

While taking this submission of the state government on record, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra disposed of the PIL filed by one Suresh Chandra Pandey regarding the stampede.

 The court observed, “Given the present situation, wherein for enlargement of the scope of enquiry of the Enquiry Commission the notification dated February 22, 2025, has been issued and further time of one month has been granted for the conclusion of the enquiry, the plea raised on behalf of the petitioner has been taken care of, the petition filed by the petitioner stands disposed of”.

“So far as the apprehensions expressed about the working of the Enquiry Commission as well as the action of the state, once a report is submitted are concerned, it is too premature for the petitioner to question the likelihood about the working of the Enquiry Commission and action of the state government under the report to be submitted and therefore, at this stage, no direction about the same can be passed.”, added the court.

The court, however, in its order dated February 24 said, “in case of any further cause, it would always be open for the petitioner to raise the issue by law.”

The commission had been set up by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the incident that occurred at around 2 a.m. on January 29 and, as per official figures, claimed the lives of 30 pilgrims and left 90 others injured.

The three-member commission is headed by Justice (retired) Harsh Kumar and has former IPS officer VK Gupta and former IAS officer DK Singh.

The state government had on January 29 appointed the three-member judicial commission to ascertain the reasons and circumstances that led to the incident and suggest measures to check such an incident in future. The state government has asked the commission to submit its report in a month.