Probe panel headed by retd judge be appointed into Kolkata tragedy:HC

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed that the West Bengal government set up a commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge of the court to inquire into the stampede at Chorbagan Durga puja pandal on October 17 that claimed 19 lives. A division bench presided by Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge said that a sitting judge of the high court cannot be appointed to head an inquiry in accordance with a Supreme Court directive, as was prayed for by the state government. The bench said a retired judge of the high court can be chosen by the West Bengal government to head the inquiry commission into the cause of the stampede and the people responsible for the incident.
Earlier,Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Monday wrote to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, requesting him to recommend the name of a sitting judge to head the committee. The move follows Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s announcement of a judicial inquiry into the incident. The committee will examine the causes of the tragedy, possible administrative lapses, safety shortcomings and the role of all concerned parties. It will submit its report within a stipulated timeframe. To ensure an impartial inquiry, the Chief Minister had earlier said that representatives of Kolkata Police, the Fire Services and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation would not be part of the committee.