SC refuses to entertain PIL seeking probe into Hathras stampede

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the appointment of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired top court judge to investigate the Hathras stampede incident, which resulted in the deaths of over 100 people on July 2.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud acknowledged the gravity of the incident but said that it could not entertain the petition as the High Court is capable of dealing with the case itself.

“Not every issue needs to be brought before the Supreme Court under Article 32. You can approach the High Court; they are robust courts. This is indeed a disturbing incident,” the bench told advocate Vishal Tiwari, who filed the PIL.

The plea sought the formation of a committee to propose guidelines and safety measures to prevent similar incidents at large public gatherings.

Furthermore, the petition requested the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report on the Hathras stampede to the apex court and initiate legal action against individuals, authorities, and officials whose negligence contributed to the tragedy.

The plea also called for the Supreme Court to direct all state governments to issue guidelines and preventive measures to ensure public safety during religious events or other large gatherings.