Retired HC judge hearing West Bengal SIR appeals to head SIT in Kolkata stampede case

The West Bengal chief minister announced after the stampede that they would appeal to the Calcutta high court to allow the formation of a probe committee.

Retired Calcutta high court judge Anindita Roy Saraswati, who is also hearing petitions from voters delisted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in West Bengal, will oversee the investigation into the deaths of 19 people in a stampede at Kolkata’s Chor Bagan Durga Puja pandal on October 17, the West Bengal government announced on Wednesday, a day after the high court’s directions to form such an SIT.

Retired Calcutta high court judge Anindita Roy Saraswati will head a six-member special investigation team (SIT) probing the deaths of 19 people in a stampede at Kolkata’s Durga Puja pandal. (HT File Photo)

“The SIT shall submit its report and recommendations to the government in three months from today,” a senior state official said, requesting anonymity.

The chief minister announced after the tragedy that his government would appeal to the Calcutta high court to allow the formation of a probe committee headed by a sitting high court judge. He also said no officer of the Kolkata police, the city fire brigade and the municipal corporation would be included in the probe team.

Deep Dive

Who is heading the SIT probing the Kolkata Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede?

What will the SIT investigate in the Chorbagan stampede case?

When will the SIT submit its report on the Kolkata stampede?

Powered ByAsk HT

However, the high court on Tuesday said a sitting judge cannot preside over such an inquiry, directing the government to form the SIT headed by a retired judge.