The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking an investigation into the Hathras stampede incident by an expert committee. The stampede, which occurred on July 2, resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, announced that the matter would be listed for hearing.
The plea, filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari, requests the formation of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the stampede.
The committee would be responsible for suggesting guidelines and safety measures to prevent such incidents in large public gatherings in the future. Additionally, the petition calls for the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report on the incident and take legal action against those responsible for the negligence that led to the tragedy.
The petition highlights the need for comprehensive guidelines and safety protocols to prevent stampedes, especially during events that attract large crowds. It specifically asks for directives to be issued to all State governments to ensure the safety of the public during religious and other significant gatherings.
The Hathras stampede occurred during a 'satsang' organised by Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari. The event drew a crowd of over two lakh devotees, far exceeding the permitted number of 80,000 attendees. The incident underscores the dangers of overcrowding and the lack of adequate safety measures in place.
The plea also references several past incidents of stampedes in India, including the Kumbh Mela stampede in 1954, which resulted in around 800 deaths, the Mecca Masjid stampede of 2007, which saw 16 fatalities, the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine stampede in 2022, the Dussehra celebrations stampede at Gandhi Maidan in Patna in 2014, and the deaths of around 104 Sabarimala devotees at Pulmedu in Idukki.
The petitioner argues that these incidents highlight a pattern of negligence and failure on the part of government authorities to ensure public safety. The plea calls for accountability and the implementation of stringent safety measures to prevent future tragedies.
The Supreme Court's decision to hear the plea regarding the Hathras stampede is a significant step towards addressing the systemic issues that lead to such disasters.
By potentially establishing an expert committee and implementing comprehensive safety guidelines, there is hope that future incidents can be prevented, ensuring the safety of the public during large gatherings.
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