Politics · India Bureau
Calcutta High Court orders retired judge to head Chorbagan stampede inquiry
The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government to establish a commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge to investigate the October 17 stampede at Chorbagan Durga puja pandal that killed 19 people. The court rejected the state government's request for a sitting judge to lead the probe.
LSN India ·
A division bench presided by Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge issued the directive on Tuesday, noting that appointing a sitting high court judge to head the inquiry would contravene Supreme Court guidelines. The bench clarified that the West Bengal government may instead select a retired judge of the high court to chair the commission of inquiry into the stampede's causes and responsibility.
The stampede at the Chorbagan Durga puja pandal claimed 19 lives on October 17. The state government had initially sought approval for a sitting high court judge to lead a special investigation team to probe the incident, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announcing this arrangement.
The vacation bench heard the matter in a special sitting during Navami of the Durga puja festival, responding to a public interest litigation filed by an advocate seeking an independent and expeditious investigation into the tragedy. The court's decision represents a compromise that maintains judicial oversight while adhering to constitutional protocols governing judicial inquiries.