New Delhi, Jan. 22 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to issue nationwide mandatory guidelines to prevent stampedes at political rallies and large public gatherings, holding that crowd management and safety protocols fall within the domain of executive authorities and experts.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi was hearing a writ petition seeking directions to the union of India and the Election Commission of India to formulate a National Crowd Management and Safety Code and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb stampede-related fatalities across the country.
The petitioner contended that nearly 4,000 people had lost their lives in stampede incidents over the past ...