In a powerful rebuke, the Allahabad High Court has strongly criticized the Uttar Pradesh government over the delay in providing ex-gratia compensation to the families of those who lost their lives during the stampede at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025, during the Shahi Snan of Mauni Amavasya.
"Prima facie, we find the stand taken to be untenable and smacking of apathy to the plight of the citizen,"
– Allahabad High Court
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The vacation bench, comprising Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh and Justice Sandeep Jain, stated that once the State had publicly announced compensation, it was its bounden duty to ensure timely and respectful disbursement. The court called the government's conduct unacceptable and reflective of serious indifference towards its citizens.
Shockingly, the Court noted that a stampede victim’s body was handed over to the family by Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj, without conducting a postmortem. The Court expressed deep concern and sought an explanation for this lapse in basic medical protocol.
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The case came before the Court as a plea by the husband of a deceased woman who had died in the stampede. The petition highlighted severe injuries, including a crushed rib cage. The Court said the State must transparently inform the family about where and how the deceased body was handled, and whether she was alive when taken to the hospital or brought dead.
“If a person was admitted to any hospital, documentation offered by the government agencies should reflect the same… If any patient was brought dead… that statement should also have been recorded.”
– Allahabad High Court
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The Court found it disturbing that despite the body being handed over in February, no compensation had been paid to the family until now. Treating the petition as a formal representation, the bench demanded urgent action from the State.
“Having realised the consequence of that occurrence and having announced a scheme for payment of ex-gratia compensation, it was the bounden duty of the State to pay up the compensation to the aggrieved families with utmost grace and dignity,”
– Allahabad High Court
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The bench directed several state and medical authorities to be added as respondents and ordered them to file detailed affidavits. These must disclose, date-wise, all deaths and medical handling of victims from January 28, 2025, till the end of the Mela.
The affidavits are to contain the full list of patients, those brought dead, and those declared dead at the facility, along with the names of doctors who treated them. The State was also directed to submit information on all compensation claims received, settled, and still pending.
“The State is duty bound to offer remedies and care where such unintended loss was suffered by the citizens.”
– Allahabad High Court
