Maha Kumbh Stampede | PIL In Allahabad HC Seeks Action Against Erring Officials, Status Report & Release Of Human Casualty Figures

The petition, filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, also prays for a direction to the State of Uttar Pradesh (Respondent No. 2) to submit a comprehensive status report on the incident and to release the number of human casualties resulting from the stampede.

The PIL petitioner moved to the High Court days after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his PIL plea seeking action against Uttar Pradesh state officials for the stampede. The Top Court had instead asked him to approach the Allahabad High Court.

"It is an unfortunate incident, something which is of concern. but go to the High Court. There is already a judicial commission constituted" CJI Sanjiv Khanna had told Tiwari, who said that stampede incidents were becoming regular.

Read more about the Supreme Court's observations here : Mahakumbh Mela Stampede | Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain PIL Against UP Govt, Allows Petitioner To Approach High Court

In his PIL plea, Advocate Tiwari also seeks the forming of a five-member expert committee, chaired by a former Supreme Court Justice, to develop and implement guidelines and suggestions to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring at large gatherings.

Additionally, the PIL plea also prays for a direction to the Union Government to Coordinate with all States to work Collectively for the safe and secure Visit of devotees at Maha Kumbh and direct that:

• All States shall establish in proper manner their facilitation centres at Prayagraj the Maha Kumbh. These centres shall provide and display the basic information regarding the safety measures and guidelines to the persons coming from their states. In emergency these centres shall be ready for any Assistance;
• Arrangements shall also be made for Announcements, display boards showing direction, roads etc in other languages so that people of different language and culture may not face problems and can get help easily in any kind of emergency situation.
• The All State Governments shall also arrange Electronic mode messages to send the message SMS, what's App message of basic guidelines and safety measures to be followed by the devotees, so that easily people may get information.
• All States Governments with coordination of Uttar Pradesh Government shall also deploy its small Medical team at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh comprising of Doctors and Nurses so that at the time of medical emergency there may not be shortage of Medical staff;
• The VIP movement shall not effect or create danger to the common devotees safety and maximum space for entry and exit of devotees at Maha Kumbh shall be provided;

In his PIL plea, Advocate Tiwari argues that it is the collective responsibility of all states to ensure the safety and secure visit of its respective residents and that all states shall have to come forward for proper facilitation, security, medical facility, Transportation and other facilities for their respective residents who are going to Maha Kumbh.

“Whenever such incidents happens mostly the Common and poor people becomes Victim. For the VIP's who visits any events or functions there are separate arrangements for them. Even the traffic movement of General Public is halted for The passing of Any Official, politician and Priests or so called Babas. There are several questions which are brewing up from this horrific incident of Stampede thereby questioning the duty and lapse of State Government and Administrative Authorities,” the PIL plea states.