Durga Puja Stampede | Calcutta High Court Suggests Appointment Of Retd Judge To Probe Incident If Sitting Judge Unavailable

The Calcutta High Court has kept pending a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an inquiry into the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja stampede that claimed 19 lives and left around 25 persons injured, observing that the State Government may appoint a retired judge of the High Court to head the inquiry commission if the Chief Justice does not spare a sitting judge for the purpose.

A vacation bench comprising Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Md. Shabbar Rashidi was hearing the PIL filed in connection with the incident that took place on October 17, 2026.

The Court noted that the State Government had already approached the Chief Justice of the High Court, through a letter dated October 18, seeking the services of a sitting judge to head the proposed inquiry commission.

The bench observed that the decision on whether to spare a serving judge for the commission rested with the Chief Justice on the administrative side. 

If no sitting judge was made available, the State Government could constitute the commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, by appointing a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court, in accordance with law.