On Monday, the Uttar Pradesh Government informed the Allahabad High Court that it has issued a notification to expand the scope of the Judicial Commission's inquiry. The commission will now investigate any loss of life and property. 

Additionally, the Court was informed that the Commission will examine the coordination between the Mela administration, the District Administration, and the Health Services Administration concerning the loss of life and property during the stampede.

The statement was made before a bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra, which had previously suggested that the State Government expand the commission's scope during the last hearing of a PIL concerning missing persons after the Maha Kumbh stampede in Prayagraj.  

The notification, issued on Saturday, states that the state governor had already appointed the Judicial Commission, considering it "necessary to conduct an inquiry in the public interest" regarding the stampede, which resulted in fatalities and serious injuries to some devotees.

The notification further states that the decision was taken in view of the "comprehensiveness of the subject matter" and to ensure "transparency in the inquiry."

Since the division bench of the High Court, on February 19, orally directed the government counsel to avoid issuing a general notification and instead clearly define the terms of reference, the notification dated February 22 specifies that the commission has been tasked with submitting a report to the state government after conducting an inquiry into specific points. This clarification suggests that the commission's objective was well-defined at the time of its appointment on January 29.

(a) To ascertain the reasons and circumstances due to which the said incident occurred;

(b) To give suggestions regarding preventing recurrence of such incident in future.

Notably, the Uttar Pradesh Government constituted a three-member judicial commission, chaired by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Harsh Kumar, to investigate the January 29 stampede.

The Government has also extended the commission's tenure by one month, effective from March 1, 2025, to conclude the inquiry proceedings. Taking note of the State Government’s submission and notification, the bench disposed of the PIL filed by Advocate Suresh Chandra Pandey, the former Honorary Secretary of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad.

However, he was granted the liberty to approach the Court again if the need arose.

The PIL, moved and argued by Advocate Saurabh Pandey, sought the formation of a Judicial Monitoring Committee to compile details of persons who went missing after the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The petitioner highlighted discrepancies in the official casualty count, claiming that multiple media reports contested the State Government's figure of 30 deaths.

The stampede, which occurred in the early hours of January 29 near the Sangam holy dip point, reportedly resulted in 30 to 39 fatalities, though The News Minute's ground investigation suggested the actual toll could be closer to 79.

Meanwhile, on February 3, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a PIL seeking action against Uttar Pradesh state officials over the stampede. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, directed petitioner Advocate Vishal Tiwari to approach the Allahabad High Court instead.

“It is an unfortunate incident, something which is of concern. But go to the High Court. There is already a judicial commission constituted,” the CJI remarked in response to Tiwari’s plea.

The petitioner had also sought policy-level interventions and regulations to prevent stampedes at large religious gatherings.