Allahabad High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking A CBI Probe Into Mahakumbh Mela Stampede
Sparsh Upadhyay
18 March 2025 4:53 AM
The Allahabad High Court last week dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela in Allahabad (January 29), which killed 30 people and left 60 more injured.
The PIL plea moved by Keshar Singh and 2 others also sought a direction to the respondents to submit a “complete report” of Mahakumbh regarding all the “irregularity and mismanagement accident” that occurred in Mahakumbh area and to “fix the liability and taking of an action against the persons who are responsible for the same”
Dismissing the PIL plea, a bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra observed that relief sought by the petitioners with regard to 'submission of a complete report of Mahakumbh' is “laconic” since from whom the report is being sought, has not even been indicated.
The bench also noted that the relief pertaining to the stampede, seeking payment of adequate compensation to the bereaved family members and a CBI report regarding the same, did not indicate the basis for seeking an inquiry beyond the inquiry already being conducted by an Inquiry Commission appointed by the UP Government under the Commissions of Inquiry Act.
In this regard, the bench referred to its observation in the case of Suresh Chandra Pandey vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and 8 others 2025 LiveLaw (AB) 68, noting that the scope of the Inquiry Commission appointed by the UP Govt is comprehensive enough to take care of the reliefs claimed in the PIL plea.
Furthermore, the bench also noted that the entire petition, which runs into 19 pages, is based on newspaper reports and newspaper cuttings, and the averments in the petition are true to his personal knowledge; however, it added that newspaper reports are only hearsay and the PIL cannot be based on such reports.
“Various allegations made in the petition as noticed hereinbefore, except for the unfortunate stampede which occurred, pertain to managing the affairs of the event, which as indicated in the petition, attracted innumerable devotees and tourists. The prayer made seeking holding of inquiry, at this stage, when the event is already over, appears to be an exercise in futility inasmuch as in case the petitioners, were really concerned about the difficulties being faced by the devotees during 45 days long event, they should have approached the authorities and/or should have taken recourse to other remedies for obviating their grievances, which has apparently not been done,” the bench remarked as it dismissed the PIL plea.
Case title – Keshar Singh and 2 others vs. State Of U.P. and 13 others 2025 LiveLaw (AB) 92
Case citation: 2025 LiveLaw (AB) 92