Today, On 3rd February, The Supreme Court will hear a petition on February 3, asking for better safety measures for devotees at the Maha Kumbh 2025. The petition was filed after tragic stampede deaths at past gatherings and calls for quick action to avoid such incidents. Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, will lead the hearing today. The petition stresses the importance of proper crowd control and safety measures.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition today, that calls for the implementation of specific guidelines and regulations to ensure the safety of devotees attending the Maha Kumbh, following a tragic stampede on January 29 that left at least 30 people dead and 60 injured.
According to the cause list dated February 3, a bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar will review the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari.
The petition aims to prevent future stampede incidents and protect the fundamental rights to equality and life under Article 21 of the Constitution. It includes the Centre and all state governments as parties and requests that they collaborate to create a safe and secure environment for devotees at the Maha Kumbh.
The plea suggests that all states should set up facilitation centres in Prayagraj to provide safety information and assist residents during emergencies. It also calls for the installation of signboards and announcements in multiple languages to help pilgrims navigate the event.
The petition states,
“All states shall properly establish their facilitation centres at the Maha Kumbh. These centres shall provide and display essential information regarding safety measures and guidelines for attendees from their states. In emergencies, these centres must be prepared to offer assistance,”
Additionally, the plea proposes using SMS and WhatsApp to spread safety protocols to attendees. It highlights the need for coordination between the Uttar Pradesh government and other states to ensure sufficient medical personnel are available at the venue.
The petition also calls for the regulation of VIP movement, asserting that public safety should take precedence over VIP protocols to avoid congestion and ensure smooth crowd flow.
The petitioner urges the Supreme Court to direct the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the stampede incident and initiate legal action against those responsible for negligence.
The stampede occurred on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most significant days in the Hindu calendar. The plea references several historical stampede incidents at religious gatherings, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive safety measures.
It cites the 1954 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where over 800 people died due to overcrowding, and notes that around 200 were killed during a stampede in Haridwar in 1986, along with 39 deaths and over 140 injuries at Nashik in 2003.
The Kumbh Mela is recognized as one of the largest religious gatherings globally, occurring in rotation among four major locations, Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), and Nashik (Maharashtra).
Given the substantial arrival of pilgrims from across the country, the petition stresses the need for collective responsibility in ensuring effective crowd management, medical facilities, transportation, and security.
The Mahakumbh Mela is a grand religious and cultural festival in India, considered the largest peaceful gathering of people in the world. It is held every 12 years, rotating among four locations: Prayagraj (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. A smaller version, called the Ardh Kumbh Mela, is celebrated every six years at two of these locations, Prayagraj and Haridwar.