Hathras Stampede: Supreme Court to Hear Plea Seeking Investigation on Friday

The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition on Friday regarding a probe into the recent Hathras stampede that resulted in 121 deaths.

The petition requests the appointment of a five-member expert committee, to be supervised by a retired Supreme Court judge, to investigate the July 2 stampede incident.

As per the cause list for July 12, available on the apex court’s website, the plea is scheduled to be heard by a bench consisting of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The petition, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, has also requested a directive for the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the incident and to initiate legal action against the authorities, officials, and others for their negligent conduct.

Additionally, it seeks the Supreme Court’s directive for states to issue guidelines to prevent stampedes or similar incidents to ensure public safety during large gatherings at religious or other events.

The stampede at a religious gathering in Hathras on July 2 resulted in 121 deaths.

Over 2.5 lakh devotees had assembled in Phulrai village, Hathras district, for a ‘satsang’ conducted by Baba Narayan Hari, also known as Saakar Vishwahari and Bhole Baba.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has filed an FIR against the organizers, accusing them of concealing evidence and violating conditions, as the event drew 2.5 lakh people, although only 80,000 were permitted.

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