Bombay High Court appoints amicus curiae in stampede case

The Bombay High Court appointed advocate Zal Andhyarujina as amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist the court on the Elphinstone Road stampede incident that occurred on September 29, killing 23 people.

A division bench said, "This is a serious matter, utmost sensitivity has to be shown. We thus want to appoint an amicus who would assist us with same seriousness and sensitivity."

While appointing Andhyarujina, the court said, "We allow you to even file a fresh petition as the issues raised in the PIL are serious and need urgent attention, but they are not drafted properly." The court has now posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.

The appointment came after the Bench rapped two petitioners, Thane resident Vikrant Tawde who sought a judicial inquiry into the stampede and Smita Mayank Dhruva, president of Congress's South Mumbai division, who asked for railways to take measures for better crowd management.

The bench said, "The station and bridge is in existence since 1867, according to the petitions. Till the incident occurred, everybody closed their eyes to the problem. Now, after the incident, these so-called activists have woken up and come with PILs."

The court also objected to relief sought in the petitions by saying these should have been sought before the incident.