Thursday, January 30, 2025: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna directed a petitioner seeking an immediate hearing of his case for a directive to the Uttar Pradesh government to file a status report on stampede casualties at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj to visit the Supreme Court Registry.
Chief Justice Khanna told petitioner-advocate Vishal Tiwari in an oral mention to make a formal application to the Registry, citing the reasons for wanting an early case listing.
Alleged “lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration” on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh State government, the petition Media accounts claimed over 60 were hurt and at least 30 individuals died in the rush.
The petition has asked the highest court to order the Uttar Pradesh government to give “a status report on Maha Kumbh stampede incident that took place on January 29, 2025 and also direct to initiate legal action against the persons, authorities and officials for their negligent conduct”.
More broadly, Mr. Tiwari has asked the court for instructions on how to structure safety precautions and rules for pilgrims all throughout the nation to help to avoid such catastrophes at such religious events. Early January 29, the stampede started in the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a sacred bath on Mauni Amavasya.
The petition demanded the establishment of facilities for assistance and facilitation just for Maha Kumbh devotees. It proposed other States working with Uttar Pradesh to send small teams of doctors and nurses to handle crises.
