The Allahabad High Court on Monday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities during the Maha Kumbh held recently in Prayagraj. The bench, consisting of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra, ruled that initiating an inquiry post-event would be an exercise in futility.
The PIL, filed by Keshar Singh and two others, claimed significant administrative failures during the Maha Kumbh, including the release of poor-quality water in the Kumbh area and substandard construction of pontoon bridges. The petitioners also highlighted issues with crowd management which purportedly affected the devotees’ ability to participate in the holy dip at the Sangam. Additionally, they demanded transparency regarding the finances of the event, specifically the total expenditure and income generated.
In response, the counsel representing the Uttar Pradesh government argued that the petition was not maintainable, criticizing the reliance on newspaper clippings as the basis for the allegations. The counsel contended that the petitioners did not conduct sufficient research or make efforts to verify the facts independently.
Echoing the state’s argument, the court noted that the Supreme Court has consistently held that public interest litigations cannot be founded solely on the basis of media reports, as these do not constitute substantial evidence. The bench emphasized that the petitioners had ample opportunity to address their concerns during the 45-day event by approaching the authorities or seeking other legal remedies, which they failed to do.
