The judicial report into the deadly 2024 Hathras stampede, which resulted in the loss of about 121 lives, has been submitted to the Uttar Pradesh state government. The report is expected to be presented during the ongoing budget session of the legislative assembly after being approved by the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet.
The tragic incident occurred on July 2, 2024, during a ‘Satsang’ event organized by self-styled godman Bhole Baba, also known as Suraj Pal, in Hathras’ Fulari village. The stampede claimed the lives of 121 people, including women and children. Reports indicate that the event attracted over two lakh devotees, despite permission being granted for only 80,000 attendees.
In response to the incident, the Uttar Pradesh police filed a 3,200-page chargesheet against 11 individuals involved in the stampede. However, the chargesheet did not mention Bhole Baba, the organizer of the event, as noted by defense lawyer AP Singh.
On July 12, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the formation of a five-member expert committee, led by a retired top court judge, to investigate the stampede. Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, acknowledged the disturbing nature of the incident but stated that the matter could be handled by the High Court, urging the petitioner to approach the lower court.
The PIL had also requested the court to direct the committee to propose safety guidelines to prevent such incidents at large public gatherings. Additionally, it sought the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the incident and take legal action against those responsible for negligence. Furthermore, the petition called for a nationwide directive for state governments to establish safety measures for large public events to avoid stampedes and ensure public safety.