The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged irregularities during the 45-day Maha Kumbh, organised in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh in the months of February and March.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra rejected the plea filed by Keshar Singh, Yogendra Kumar Pandey and Kamlesh Singh, calling it baseless.
The PIL sought directions to provide appropriate financial assistance to the families of those who lost their lives during the stampede that occurred in the Mela Area during Mauni Amavasya on January 29, 2025.
It further sought directions to the government officials to submit a comprehensive report on the mismanagement of the 45-day event and take necessary action.
Appearing for the petitioners, Advocate Vijay Chandra Srivastava highlighted the disorganisation of the Maha Kumbh, including the administrative negligence, as well as the contamination of the water of river Ganga.
The petition named the state government and 13 other respondents, including DIG Mahakumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishna, Controller of Digital Kumbh Electronics IPS Ajay Pal Sharma, Swami Ram Bhadracharya of Tulsi Peeth, Peethadhishwar Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham, UP Vidyut Limited, Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner, District Magistrate, SSP Mela, DCP Traffic, Mahakumbh Mela Officer Vijay Kiran Anand and Prayagraj Mela Authority.
On February 24, the State of Uttar Pradesh apprised the High Court that it has expanded the scope of the Judicial Commission set up to investigate the factors that led to the January 29 stampede.
The Counsel appearing for the state government apprised the Bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra that the Commission would now also look into 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.
Earlier on February 19, the High Court had suggested the state government to broaden the Commission’s scope regarding the missing persons after the stampede. It had orally instructed the state government not to issue a general notification regarding the Commission, but to clearly outline the terms of reference.
The Counsel said pursuant to the High Court suggestion, the Uttar Pradesh government had issued a notification on February 22, 2025.
The notification said considering the gravity of the matter, the Uttar Pradesh Governor, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section-3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 (Act No. 60 of 1952), expanded the scope of investigation specified to the Commission of Inquiry regarding the January 29 stampede.
He said the Commission would now ascertain the reasons and circumstances due to which the stampede occurred in the Mela Area during Mauni Amavasya at Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj, on January 29.
It would further look into 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.
The Commission would conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the state government. It would also give suggestions to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future.
The state government further extended the Commission’s tenure by one month, which shall be calculated from March 1, 2025, to conclude the probe.
The three-member Judicial Commission, chaired by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Harsh Kumar, was earlier set up by the state government to probe the January 29 stampede.
Taking into account the submission and the notification of the state government, the High Court disposed of the PIL moved by Advocate Suresh Chandra Pandey, former Honorary Secretary of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad, by giving him the liberty to approach the Court, if the need so arises.
Moved and argued by Advocate Saurabh Pandey, the PIL sought the establishment of a Judicial Monitoring Committee to collate the details of persons who went missing after the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
The petitioner had explicitly claimed that many media portals had disputed the number of casualties (30) reported officially by the state government.
The stampede occurred in the early hours of January 29, reportedly killing more than 30 persons near the Sangam holy dip point.
On February 3, the Supreme Court had rejected a PIL seeking action against Uttar Pradesh state officials for the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, the petition claimed that stampede incidents were becoming regular. Advocate Tiwari further sought directions to formulate policies and regulations to prevent such stampedes at large religious gatherings.
The Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, had directed the petitioner to approach the High Court.