Kumbh Stampede: Supreme Court Declines to Hear PIL Seeking Action Against Authorities

New Delhi- On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against officials for the recent Maha Kumbh stampede in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, which claimed 30 lives and left about 60 people injured.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar, directed the petitioner, advocate Vishal Tiwari, to approach the Allahabad High Court instead. The court noted that the state government had already initiated a judicial inquiry into the tragedy.

The PIL highlighted a pattern of recurring stampedes at religious gatherings, drawing a concerning line from the 1954 Kumbh Mela incident to the current tragedy in 2025.

The petition emphasized the collective responsibility of all states to ensure safety measures for their residents attending the Kumbh, one of India's largest religious gatherings. It specifically pointed out administrative lapses in crowd management and called for comprehensive safety protocols.

The incident has sparked political controversy, with Opposition members disrupting Parliament's Budget session on Monday, demanding greater accountability from the Uttar Pradesh government.

Critics accused Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's administration of initially withholding information about casualties and called for a detailed list of victims. Some Opposition MPs went further, demanding the Chief Minister's resignation, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attempted to maintain order amid the ensuing chaos.