Court mandates finalization of compensation claim for victim's family within 30 days, warns of serious consequences for non-compliance.
In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Commission of Inquiry and the Mela Authority to expedite the compensation process for the family of a victim who tragically lost her life in a stampede during the Kumbh Mela on January 29, 2025. The court has stipulated a 30-day deadline for finalizing the compensation claim of the petitioner, Uday Pratap Singh, whose wife was among the deceased.
The bench, comprising Justices Ajit Kumar and Swarupama Chaturvedi, underscored the need for prompt action in addressing the grievances of the affected families. The court emphasized that any delay in compliance would result in serious consequences, highlighting the importance of timely justice for the victims.
During the proceedings, the petitioner's counsel, Ashok Kumar Upadhyay, argued that despite the petitioner having completed all necessary formalities and submitted the required documents, there was an undue delay in processing the compensation. The court noted that the statement of the petitioner had been recorded by the Commission on December 17, 2025, and stressed the urgency of concluding the matter.
Representing the State and the Mela Authority, Senior Advocate Manish Goyal and Additional Advocate General Anoop Trivedi assured the court that the matter was under active consideration. They explained that the investigation into the stampede, which resulted in multiple fatalities, was ongoing, and the authorities were working to accommodate the dependents who had come forward later in the process.
The court had previously, on June 6, 2025, issued a detailed order requiring personal affidavits from the authorities involved. With affidavits now filed, the court deemed it necessary to expedite the compensation process for the petitioner. The decision taken by the Commission, in collaboration with the Mela Authority, is to be submitted to the court by the next hearing date, set for February 18, 2026.
This directive from the Allahabad High Court serves as a critical reminder of the judiciary's role in ensuring accountability and timely redress for those affected by tragedies, reinforcing the expectation of swift action from public authorities in matters of public interest.
Bottom Line:
Compensation for death during stampede in Kumbh Mela directed to be finalized within a specific time frame by the Commission and Mela Authority.
Statutory provision(s): Compensation.
Uday Pratap Singh v. State of U.P., (Allahabad)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2844588
