CHOREBAGAN STAMPEDE PROBE: CALCUTTA HIGH COURT TURNS DOWN DEMAND FOR SITTING JUDGE TO LEAD INQUIRY
October 21, 2026
KOLKATA, OCTOBER 21: The Calcutta High Court has rejected a request for a sitting judge to head the investigation into the deadly Chorebagan Durga Puja stampede, directing the West Bengal government to constitute an inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge.
The court's decision came amid continuing legal and public scrutiny of the stampede in north Kolkata, which claimed 19 lives and raised serious questions about crowd management and safety arrangements at the Durga Puja pandal.
The state government had proposed an inquiry led by a sitting High Court judge to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. However, the division bench, headed by Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge, declined the request, citing the applicable Supreme Court directive concerning the appointment of sitting judges to such inquiries.
The court indicated that a retired judge of the High Court could head the proposed commission, providing a route for the government to proceed with an independent examination of the incident.
The proceedings arose from a public interest litigation seeking a fair and time-bound investigation into the stampede. The tragedy has intensified demands for accountability and a detailed assessment of the arrangements in place when the crowd surge occurred.
The inquiry is expected to examine the sequence of events leading to the deaths and scrutinise issues relating to crowd control, entry and exit arrangements, and the responsibilities of the organisers and relevant authorities. Any determination of negligence or individual responsibility will depend on the evidence gathered.
The High Court's decision clarifies the form of the proposed inquiry while leaving the state government responsible for taking the necessary steps to constitute the commission in accordance with the court's direction.
The Chorebagan tragedy has become a major public safety concern in Kolkata, where large crowds gather at prominent Durga Puja venues during the festive season. The case has renewed calls for effective crowd-management protocols, adequate emergency access and stronger oversight of major public events.
The constitution of the commission will be an important next step in the effort to establish how the stampede occurred and whether failures in safety arrangements contributed to the loss of lives. For the families of the victims, the central demand remains a credible investigation that produces clear answers and accountability.
