Mathura stampede: HC issues contempt notices to judge, SSP

Single judge bench of Justice Vikram Nath passed the order on October 1, on a contempt petition filed by one Rasik Raj Goswami of Vrindavan.

Goswami had said that a High Court order dated December 8, 2004 had approved "a map showing details of the temple and arrangements of darshan etc" with variations being allowed "only on festivals" after which barricading was to be restored as per the map.

However, the petitioner alleged that barricading arrangements were changed by the district police with the approval of District Judge Ram Avtar Kaushik who was assisted by Civil Judge Amarjeet Singh.

This violation of the court order inconvenienced devotees visiting the temple and was also responsible for the stampede of September 16, Goswami alleged in his petition.

The court issued contempt notices to the aforesaid judicial officers, besides Mathura SSP N Padmaja, the Station House Officer concerned Ved Singh Yadav and manager of the temple Abhilash Singh for having facilitated the changes in arrangements despite the court order.

The court directed them to comply with the December 8, 2004 order within a month.

On September 23, three pilgrims were killed and over half a dozen injured in the stampede at the Radha Rani temple in Barsana.