PRAYAGRAJ, May 1 -- The Allahabad high court said that claims for ex gratia compensation to the victims of the tragic Mahakumbh Mela stampede (of January 29, 2025) must be decided by the district administration and the Mela Authority within 30 days, and not by the state-appointed judicial inquiry commission. The bench comprising justice Ajit Kumar and justice Satya Veer Singh was hearing a writ petition filed by one Sanjay Kumar Sharma, seeking compensation for the death of a relative during the stampede. Having perused an affidavit filed by the secretary of the judicial inquiry commission, the bench noted that disposing of representations for compensation is beyond the scope of inquiry. The affidavit also pointed out that the commission had returned the petitioner's claim file to the Meladhikari while advising the Mela administration to decide the matter at its own level. Examining the commission's terms of reference, the court noted that its primary tasks were to ascertain the reasons and circumstances of the incident, offer suggestions to prevent future occurrences, inquire into the loss of life and property and examine the coordination among the Mela administration, district administration and health services. htc...