Calcutta HC says inquiry commission headed by retired judge be appointed into Chorbagan stampede

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) directed the West Bengal government to set up a commission of inquiry, headed by a retired judge of the Court, to inquire into the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal on October 17, 2026, that claimed 19 lives.

A Division Bench presided over by Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge said a sitting judge of the High Court could not be appointed to head an inquiry, in accordance with a Supreme Court directive, as had been sought by the State government.

The Bench said a retired judge of the High Court could be chosen by the West Bengal government to head the inquiry commission into the cause of the stampede and those responsible for the incident.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had said a sitting judge of the High Court would head a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be formed to probe the incident.

The vacation Bench of the Court, in a special sitting on Navami of the Durga Puja festival, was hearing a PIL by a lawyer seeking an independent and speedy probe into the stampede, on Saptami, the first day of the Durga Puja festival.