Hathras stampede: Plea in SC seeks appointment of expert panel to probe incident
New Delhi (PTI): A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking the appointment of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired apex court judge to probe the Hathras stampede incident which claimed 121 lives.
The plea, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, has also sought a direction to the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the July 2 incident and to initiate legal action against the authorities, officials and others for their negligent conduct.
The petition has sought a direction to the states to submit the status of medical facilities available from the block/Tehsil to the district level to deal with incidents of stampede.
It has also sought the apex court's direction to the states to issue guidelines to prevent stampede or other incidents for the safety of the public in organising any religious or other events where a large number of people gather.
A stampede at a religious congregation on Tuesday killed 121 people, most of them women, as devotees suffocated to their deaths and bodies piled atop each other in the worst such tragedy in recent years.
Over 2.5 lakh devotees had gathered in Hathras district's Phulrai village for the 'satsang' conducted by Baba Narayan Hari, who is also known as Saakar Vishwahari Bhole Baba.
According to the Office of the Relief Commissioner, while the toll has risen to 121, the number of people injured in the incident stands at 28.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against the organisers, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people gathering for the event in which only 80,000 were permitted.
The plea filed in the apex court has sought a direction for the appointment of an expert committee to enquire into the stampede incident and also to direct the panel to suggest and frame guidelines, and safety measures to avoid such incidents.
"Such incident prima facie depicts the serious condition of responsibility lapse, negligence and unfaithful duty of care towards the public by the government authorities," it claimed.
The plea further alleged that various such incidents have taken place in India in the past wherein due to mismanagement, lapse in duty, and negligent maintenance activities, there have been cases of huge public casualties which could have been avoided.
"There are several questions which are brewing up from this horrific incident of stampede thereby questioning the duty and lapse of state government and municipal corporations," it claimed, adding that the authorities had failed in controlling the crowd which gathered for the event.
It referred to some past incidents of stampede in the country in religious festivals, ceremonies and events.
The plea has arrayed the Centre, several other states and Union Territories as party respondents.
The FIR lodged in the case alleged that the organisers hid the actual number of devotees coming to the 'satsang' while seeking permission, did not cooperate in traffic management and hid evidence after the stampede, which broke out after people gathered there stopped to collect mud from the way the baba's vehicle was passing.
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South Africa defeat India by 12 runs in 1st Women's T20I
Chennai, July 5: Having lost the Test and ODI series, South Africa bounced back to defeat India by 12 runs in the first women's T20I to secure their first win of the multi-format tour, here on Friday.
Opener Tazmin Brits (81; 56b) and Marizanne Kapp (57; 33b) struck belligerent fifties as South Africa posted an imposing 189/4 after India opted to bowl.
In reply, Smriti Mandhana (46; 30b) and Shafali Verma (18; 14b) gave India a brisk start before South Africa triggered the collapse.
Jemimah Rodrigues raised India's hopes lower down the order with 53 not out from 30 balls, while Harmanpreet Kaur made 35. But South Africa held nerves to restrict them to 177/4.
Earlier, Brits slammed three sixes and 10 fours in her career-best knock of 81. Kapp hit eight fours and one as the duo stitched 96-run partnership from 56 balls.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt made 33 from 22 balls and Brits raced to 50 runs in 43 balls for the opening wicket before Radha Yadav (2/40) gave India the first breakthrough.
Pooja Vastrakar was the pick of Indian bowling with her 2 for 23.
The second and third T20Is are slated here on Sunday and Tuesday.
India had defeated South Africa in the one-off Test before sweeping the ODI series 3-0.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 189/4 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 81, Marizanne Kapp 57; Pooja Vastrakar 2/23, Radha Yadav 2/40).
India 177/4 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 53, Smriti Mandhana 47).
