PIL in Supreme Court seeks probe into Hathras stampede

A PIL has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking the immediate constitution of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired apex court judge to enquire into the Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras stampede incident.

At least 121 people were killed in a stampede at a religious congregation organised by self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari in Fhulrai village in Hathras district, which was reportedly attended by over one lakh people, mostly women.

The plea seeks directions to the UP government to submit a status report and initiate legal action against the organisers, authorities and officials for their “negligent conduct.”

“The incident of a stampede at a religious gathering Satsang event in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday has killed at least 100 people…..It is therefore of prime importance for the Hon’ble Court to intervene in this matter of great public importance and protect the fundamental rights of people under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” it said.

Such incident prima facie depicts the serious condition of responsibility lapse, negligence and unfaithful duty of care towards the public by the government authorities, the plea added.

Further, the PIL seeks directions to all the state governments to issue guidelines to prevent stampede or other incidents for the safety of the public in religious and other events where large numbers of people gather.

It said that quite often there are reports of casualties occurring due to overcrowding and lack of management by the administration or municipal bodies but we have not learnt anything from the past.

“From the 1954 Kumbh Mela Stampede accident leading to 500 casualties to death of more than 100 people in an Stampede during Satsang Event in Hathras District of Uttar Pradesh, it is clear and visible to mention that nothing in the administration activity of our country has changed wherein such actions could have been avoided by showing reasonable duty of care and upfront repair and development activity,” said the plea filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari.