Justice G.R. Swaminathan heard contempt proceedings over alleged non-compliance in the Thirupparankundram Deepam matter, with officials saying prohibitory orders were only to control crowds. The Madras High Court granted time to the District Collector to file an additional affidavit and adjourned the case to March 2.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, December 11 criticized the Guruvayur Devaswom for canceling the ancient ‘Udayasthamana Pooja’ over crowd control concerns, asserting that rituals should not be altered based on public opinion. The justices emphasized the need to adhere to traditional practices, highlighting a past acknowledgment by the chief priest regarding the importance of established rituals.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the district administration to ensure safety at the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura, assigning responsibility for law and order during the festival. The court has also ordered that live streaming be restricted to within the temple to manage crowd control and prevent overcrowding.
The Uttar Pradesh Government has formed a three-member judicial commission, led by former Allahabad High Court Judge Brijesh Kumar Srivastav, to investigate the Hathras stampede that claimed over 120 lives. The commission will examine aspects such as crowd control measures and recommend preventive actions. Various legal pleas have been initiated in response to the tragic incident.