Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain PIL On Stampede At New Delhi Railway Station

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to be given to the authorities on the crowd management, claiming that over 200 people had died in a recent stampede at the New Delhi railway station.

The two-Judge Bench of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra asked the counsel for the Petitioner, "Is there any proof that 200 have died?"

The counsel claimed that several videos of the stampede at the railway station were uploaded on X and the Railways has issued notices to the witnesses who were present there.

"Those persons can approach the court" said the Bench.

The Court asked whether the Petitioner believed that the concerned authorities were neglecting the issue. The counsel said that the Petition was filed for proper implementation of the National Disaster Management Act and relevant Rules for crowd management.

The counsel further said that the plea has arrayed all the States and Union Territories as party Respondents in the matter.

At least 18 people were killed in a stampede on February 15 at the New Delhi Railway Station which witnessed a surge of passengers waiting to board trains for Prayagraj where the Maha Kumbh was underway.

On February 19 this year, the Delhi High Court had asked the Railways to examine the fixing of maximum passengers and sale of platform tickets related issues raised in a PIL filed before it over the recent stampede at the New Delhi railway station.

The High Court had asked the concerned authorities to state the details of decisions taken by it on these issues in its Affidavit.

Accordingly, the Apex Court dismissed the plea and said that the Petitioner may approach the Delhi High Court with the grievance.

With PTI Inputs