The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari, which sought the proper implementation of guidelines and regulations to ensure the safety of devotees at the Maha Kumbh, where a stampede on January 29 claimed at least 30 lives and left 60 injured.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the incident, the apex court directed Tiwari to approach the Allahabad High Court instead. “We are not entertaining the petition. You may move the High Court,” stated the two-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar.
Advocate Tiwari sought directions from the apex court on stampede incidents, citing their regularity. The petitioner also requested policy and regulation formulation.
Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, opposed the PIL. “A judicial inquiry is underway, and a similar petition is pending in the High Court,” Rohatgi argued.
