Hathras Stampede Case: Plea filed in Supreme Court for inquiry and stringent safety guidelines

Utter Pradesh: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to immediately appoint a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court justice to inquire into the Hathras stampede incident.

The plea, moved by advocate Vishal Tiwari, also seeks to direct the committee to suggest and frame guidelines and safety measures in the interest of public safety, aiming to prevent such incidents during large public gatherings.

The petitioner has urged the Supreme Court to direct Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report on the Hathras stampede incident that occurred on July 2, and to initiate legal action against persons, authorities, and officials for their negligent conduct.

The petition also seeks directions from state governments to issue guidelines to prevent stampedes and other incidents during religious or other events where large numbers of people gather, ensuring public safety.

The petitioner stated that this Public Interest Litigation highlights the dire condition and fate of people due to lapses, negligence, and failures of administration purported by government authorities. From the Kumbh Mela stampede in 1954, which caused 500 casualties, to the recent stampede during a Satsang Event in Hathras District, where over 100 people lost their lives, it is evident that the administration’s approach has not changed, neglecting their duty of care and preventive measures.

This imposes absolute liability on the Central and State Governments to prioritize public interest and work towards public welfare. There are frequent reports of casualties due to overcrowding and mismanagement by administrations and municipal bodies, leading to severe public casualties, the petition adds.

“Every time such incidents occur, we fail to learn from the past. The recent stampede at a religious Satsang event in Uttar Pradesh, which claimed at least 100 lives, underscores the serious lapses, negligence, and lack of duty of care by government authorities,” the petition emphasized.

“The village, situated approximately 200 kilometers southeast of New Delhi, witnessed this tragic incident during a prayer meeting known as Satsang,” the petition continued.

“The incident prima facie demonstrates the severe lapse in responsibility, negligence, and failure to fulfill the duty of care towards the public by government authorities,” the petitioner highlighted.

“Over the past decade, numerous incidents in our country have occurred due to mismanagement, negligence in duty, and inadequate maintenance, resulting in significant public casualties that could have been prevented. There were inadequate security facilities and arrangements to prevent such unexpected accidents. The priest/baba who organized the event is missing, and questions have been raised about the administration and police arrangements. There were no medical facilities to handle emergencies, nor adequate measures taken to prevent such horrific incidents,” the petitioner stated.

The petitioner also referenced several similar incidents of stampedes during religious festivals, ceremonies, and events across India.

“These tragic incidents in India have occurred due to gross negligence and irresponsible actions by state governments, resulting in loss of human life. The investigations initiated into each incident have often been delayed, with no constructive reports or investigations to identify the culprits or determine the causes behind such lapses, failures, and negligent operations,” the petition concluded.