PIL for NIA probe into stampede
Two separate Public Interest Litigations (PIL) seeking enquiry in the tragic stampede at Elphinstone Road station overbridge were mentioned in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.
The criminal PIL seeking an enquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was granted an urgent hearing while the second civil PIL seeking an enquiry by a Judicial Commission has been posted for hearing on Friday.
The PILs were mentioned before two separate benches on Tuesday.
The civil PIL filed by Thane-based activist Vikrant Tawade was mentioned before a division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Nitin Jamdar.
Tawade through his counsel V. P. Patil has sought appointment of a Judicial Commission to probe the incident. He has also sought directions to the Railways to follow up the suggestions made by the Free Press Journal as to how such incidents can be averted. This petition has also sought an enquiry against errant officials of the railways. It has also sought a permanent job in Railways for the family members of those who died in the tragic incident.
The petition also seeks a direction to the Railways to set up a Disaster Management System in coordination with the concerned police force.
After hearing the petition, Chief Justice said, “I saw the news (pertaining to the incident). But this is a fact that nothing can be done overnight. Will hear this petition on Friday.”
The criminal PIL filed by Andheri-resident Faisal Banaraswala through his advocate Gunratan Sadavrate was mentioned before another division bench of Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Sandeep Shinde.
In his PIL, Banaraswala has sought a thorough enquiry by the NIA in the stampede incident that claimed 23 lives last week. He has also sought directions to the Railways to make apt arrangements for the safety of the commuters by removing the hawkers and all other obstacles that hinder the smooth movement of commuters on platforms as well as bridges. Apart from this, Banaraswala has also sought directions to the Railways to make available Ambulance and other Health services at all the railway stations in Mumbai and Thane.