India, March 6 -- New Delhi

The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to permit three individuals, who were prevented from boarding a train bound for Prayagraj on February 15, to intervene in a plea filed over a stampede that took place on that day at the New Delhi railway station, where at least 18 people lost their lives.

A bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Tushar Rao Gedela said the scope of the plea filed by NGO Arth Vidhi was limited to the effective implementation of Section 57 and Section 147 of the Railways Act, 1989 and allowing private persons to intervene for resolution of their grievances related to Railways' failure to refund their ticket amount would open floodgates.

"It's a public interest litigation (PIL) a...