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HC orders district admin to decide ex-gratia claims within 30 days for Mahakumbh stampede victims
The Allahabad High Court directed that ex-gratia compensation for Mahakumbh stampede victims be decided by the district administration and the Mela Authority within 30 days, not by the state judicial inquiry commission. The bench clarified the commission’s role is confined to investigating causes and prevention, while the Meladhikari must verify deaths using inquest and post-mortem documents. The court also set deadlines for filing a compliance affidavit and for the commission to refrain from delaying compensation decisions.
Why It Matters
The ruling delineates responsibility for compensation payments and clarifies the scope of the judicial inquiry commission, potentially accelerating relief for victims' families and shaping future how stampede cases are handled in similar events.
Timeline
3 Events
Compliance affidavit deadline for Meladhikari
May 7, 2026
The court directed the Meladhikari to file a compliance affidavit by May 7.
April 30, 2026: HC hearing and order on ex-gratia claims
April 30, 2026
The Allahabad High Court heard a writ petition by Sanjay Kumar Sharma and directed that ex-gratia compensation claims be decided by the district administration and the Mela Authority within 30 days, not by the state judicial inquiry commission. The court stated that the commission does not need to determine whether the stampede occurred, given the state's admission of loss of life and property. It noted that the Meladhikari must verify death using inquest and post-mortem reports and observed that the commission had returned the claim file to the Meladhikari with advice to decide at the Mela administration's level.
Stampede at Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj (Mauni Amavasya)
January 29, 2025
A stampede occurred during the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya, resulting in loss of life and property. The state has admitted paying compensation to some dependents. An inquest report and a post-mortem report exist for the deceased, and the judicial inquiry commission’s terms of reference focus on determining causes and prevention rather than compensation.