Kumbh stampede: HC raps UP over ex gratia delay

HC SAID ONCE THE GOVT ANNOUNCED EX GRATIA, IT WAS 'BOUNDED DUTY' TO ENSURE TIMELY PAYMENT

- HT Correspondent

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court has slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over its delay in disbursing ex gratia compensation to the families of those who died in a stampede on the night of Amrit Snan of Mauni Amavasya during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 29.

Coming down heavily on the state government, a vacation bench of justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Sandeep Jain on Friday said that once government had announced compensation, it was its "bounden duty" to ensure timely and dignified payment.

"Prima facie, we find the stand taken to be untenable and smacking of apathy to the plight of the citizen. It was the bounden duty of the State to pay up the compensation to the aggrieved families with utmost grace and dignity," the court noted.