National Desk
12 July
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Supreme Court of India today declined to hear a petition seeking an inquiry into the Hathras stampede case, which resulted in 121 deaths on July 2. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Mishra noted that while such incidents are deeply disturbing, the Allahabad High Court is well-equipped to handle the matter.
The bench emphasized the importance of allowing the High Court to adjudicate such cases, stating, “Of course, these are disturbing incidents, but the High Court is capable of disposing of such cases.” They also pointed out that petitions are often filed with the intention of making such incidents a significant issue.
The petition was filed by Vishal Tiwari, who was seeking a Supreme Court directive for an investigation into the tragic stampede. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition and instructed Tiwari to approach the Allahabad High Court instead.
This decision underscores the judiciary’s confidence in the capabilities of the High Courts to manage and adjudicate sensitive and high-profile cases. The Supreme Court’s stance aims to ensure that the judicial process remains efficient and that lower courts are utilized effectively for such inquiries.