Govind Kumar Dhuriya & Ors. vs Union Of India & Ors.

$~2
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
nd
% Date of Decision: November 02 , 2026
# CNR No. DLHC010175412025
+ W.P.(C) 4143/2025
GOVIND KUMAR DHURIYA & ORS. .....Petitioners
Through: Mr. Siddharth Dutta, Mr.
Pratyush Singh, Mr. Kandarp
Raj Dipankar, Ms. Pratyksha
Priya, Advocates.
versus
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Amit Tiwari, CGSC with
Ms. Ayushi Srivastava, Mr.
Arpan Narwal, Mr. Kushagra
Malik, Mr. Ujjwal Tyagi,
Advocates.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT MAHAJAN
AMIT MAHAJAN, J. (Oral)
1. By way of the present petition, the petitioners seek the
following reliefs:
“A. ISSUE a Writ of Mandamus and/or a Right or Direction in
nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to forthwith
compensate all the victims affected by this tragedy and for the
mental agony and harassment that victims had to bear because of
the gross mismanagement and carelessness at the helm of the
Respondents which includes refund of the tickets.
B. ISSUE a Writ of Mandamus and/or a Right or Direction in
nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to compensate the
victims and the Petitioners from the salaries of all the officials
responsible that include Railway officials, bureaucrats, police
officers from Delhi police or any other central security agency that
may have been entrusted to maintain law and order and to ensure
the safety of the passengers instead of using the taxpayers money
for the same to set a perfect example for the officials across the
country that their actions bear consequences upon them.
C. ISSUE a Writ or Direction or Order in the nature of Mandamus
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:SHIKHA
SEHGAL
Signing Date:03.11.2026
19:31:09
W.P.(C) 4143/2025 Page 1 of 7

and direct the Respondents to curate a detailed plan of action and
present before this Hon’ble Court within a proper time-frame to
deal with a sudden surge of crowd in cases of public events where
the surge of crowds is anticipated along with a plan of action to
streamline the entry and exit of the passengers so that such
incidents never repeat and are prevented therefore.
D. ISSUE a Writ or Direction or Order in the nature of Mandamus
and direct the Respondents to forthwith punish the
individuals/officers at all levels in the employment of Respondents
who were responsible for creating a situation by issuing extra
tickets both to passengers as well as those who came to the
platform to purchase platform tickets when there was no proper
arrangement/security available at the station on the fateful day.”
2. Succinctly stated, the petition relates to the stampede at New
Delhi Railway Station on 15.02.2025, in which 18 persons lost their
lives and 15 persons were injured. The petitioners state that they had
booked tickets for Train No. 20802 (Magadh Express) from New
Delhi to Prayagraj, scheduled to depart at 9:05 PM on 15.02.2025.
3. It is the case of the petitioners that they reached the station well
in time but could not board the train because of the heavy crowd, and
that they were present at the station when the stampede took place on
the foot-over-bridge. Petitioner No. 2 is a person with disability.
4. The petition was initially filed as a Public Interest Litigation
titled ‘ Govind Kumar Dhuriya & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors .
W.P.(C) 4143/2025’ . By order dated 02.04.2025, the Division Bench
of this Court directed the petition to be treated as a civil writ petition
filed by the petitioners in their individual capacity.
5. Thereafter, by order dated 20.07.2026, the learned CGSC was
directed to seek instructions as to whether any policy had been framed
in respect of prayer (C). By order dated 10.08.2026, the respondents
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:SHIKHA
SEHGAL
Signing Date:03.11.2026
19:31:09
W.P.(C) 4143/2025 Page 2 of 7

were directed to file an additional affidavit setting out the Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed in such circumstances.
Pursuant thereto, the respondents have filed an additional affidavit
dated 27.08.2026.
6. Aggrieved by the alleged failure of the respondents to manage
the crowd at New Delhi Railway Station, as a result of which the
petitioners could not board their train and were exposed to the
stampede, the petitioners have preferred the present petition.
7. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the
petitioners had booked tickets to travel from New Delhi to Prayagraj
by Train No. 20802 (Magadh Express), scheduled to depart at 9:05
PM on 15.02.2025. He submits that the petitioners reached the station
at about 8:00 PM but found the platforms and the foot-over-bridge
overcrowded. He submits that despite repeated attempts, and while
trying to protect Petitioner No. 2, who is a person with disability, the
petitioners could not board their coach and the train left without them.
He further submits that at about 10:00 PM, the announcement of a
special train to Prayagraj from Platform No. 16 led to a sudden rush
on the foot-over-bridge, which resulted in the stampede. He further
submits that the petitioners witnessed its aftermath and could return
home only after 1:00 AM on 16.02.2025, and that the incident was the
result of the failure of the respondents to manage the crowd.
8. He submits that the petitioners are pressing only prayer (C) and
do not press prayers (A), (B) and (D). He submits that the petitioners
do not seek refund of the fare, and the respondents may retain the
ticket money. He further submits that the question of compensation
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:SHIKHA
SEHGAL
Signing Date:03.11.2026
19:31:09
W.P.(C) 4143/2025 Page 3 of 7

concerns the persons actually affected by the incident, and the
petitioners do not seek any compensation for themselves.
9. He submits that the real object of the petition is to ensure that a
proper SOP is in place for managing large crowds at railway stations,
and that it is implemented on the ground and does not remain only on
paper.
10. Per contra , the learned counsel for the respondents, in response
to prayer (C), refers to the additional affidavit dated 27.08.2026. He
submits that Annexure-1 thereto, being the Railway Board letter No.
2025/TG-V/4/1 dated 01.05.2025 titled “Strategic Preparedness for
Events with High Passenger Footfall” , provides for advance
planning for festivals, melas including the Maha Kumbh, recruitment
examinations, sports events and other predictable gatherings. He
submits that each Division is required to list the upcoming events and
assess the expected crowd. He further submits that the Senior
Divisional Commercial Manager and the Senior Divisional Security
Commissioner are required to jointly compile such a list at least three
weeks in advance, and to prepare a joint action plan covering crowd
management areas, special trains, additional security staff, extra ticket
counters and ticket checking.
11. On a query from this Court as to what the respondents have
actually done to manage crowded events, the learned counsel for the
respondents refers to the other measures set out in the affidavit. He
submits that the Railway Board policy dated 30.05.2025 provides for
holding areas outside stations, access control of platforms, CCTV
cameras, monitoring rooms with CCTV feeds, communication
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:SHIKHA
SEHGAL
Signing Date:03.11.2026
19:31:09
W.P.(C) 4143/2025 Page 4 of 7

equipment and the posting of a senior officer for coordination. He
submits that passenger holding areas are to be created at 76 high-
traffic stations in terms of the letter dated 28.11.2025. He further
submits that the waiting list limits have been rationalised by the policy
dated 02.07.2025, and the timing of reservation charts has been
revised by the letter dated 16.12.2025, so that passengers know their
status in advance.
12. On this Court pointing out that the affidavit largely speaks of
steps to be taken in the future, the learned counsel for the respondents
refers to Annexure-6 of the additional affidavit, being the RLDA letter
dated 12.01.2026. He submits that a Holding Area / Yatri Suvidha
Kendra, with a capacity of about 7,000 passengers, was commissioned
on the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi Railway Station on 11.10.2025.
He submits that it has 22 ticket counters, 25 Automatic Ticket
Vending Machines, announcement and train information systems,
CCTV cameras, luggage scanners, door frame metal detectors and a
dedicated control room. He further submits that the daily footfall at
the station went up to 3,29,527 passengers on 24.10.2025, which
shows the scale of traffic that these arrangements have to handle.
13. This Court has heard the learned counsel for the parties and
perused the record.
14. In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel for the
petitioners, prayers (A), (B) and (D) are dismissed as not pressed. The
statement that the petitioners do not seek refund of the fare is taken on
record.
15. As regards prayer (C), the record shows that the Railway Board
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:SHIKHA
SEHGAL
Signing Date:03.11.2026
19:31:09
W.P.(C) 4143/2025 Page 5 of 7

has issued SOPs and circulars dealing with planning for high-footfall
events, holding areas, access control, CCTV monitoring, waiting list
limits and passenger information. A framework, therefore, already
exists. Framing of policy is within the domain of the executive, and
this Court does not consider it necessary to direct the framing of a
fresh SOP. However, the incident of 15.02.2025 shows that what
ultimately matters is how these measures are implemented on the
ground before and during each crowded event. There must also be
accountability, and a proper record must be maintained of the steps
taken in each case.
16. In the opinion of this Court, the additional affidavit largely
speaks of steps to be taken in the future. Apart from the Holding Area
/ Yatri Suvidha Kendra on the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi
Railway Station, which, as per Annexure-6 to the additional affidavit,
being the RLDA letter dated 12.01.2026, was commissioned on
11.10.2025 with a capacity of about 7,000 passengers, 22 ticket
counters, 25 Automatic Ticket Vending Machines, CCTV cameras,
luggage scanners, door frame metal detectors and a dedicated control
room, the respondents have not shown much on the ground.
Considering that the daily footfall at the station went up to 3,29,527
passengers on 24.10.2025, this Court is of the view that the measures
must be monitored and recorded for every crowded event. It is for this
reason that the following directions are being issued.
17. Accordingly, it is directed as under:
a. The respondents shall strictly implement the SOPs and
circulars referred to above, including the Railway Board
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:SHIKHA
SEHGAL
Signing Date:03.11.2026
19:31:09
W.P.(C) 4143/2025 Page 6 of 7

letters dated 01.05.2025, 30.05.2025, 02.07.2025, 28.11.2025
and 16.12.2025.
b. Before every event at which a large passenger footfall is
expected, a senior officer nominated by the competent
authority of the respondents shall, at least one week before
the event, review the arrangements in coordination with the
Delhi Police and the other agencies concerned, in terms of
the said SOPs and circulars.
c. The said officer shall prepare a written report recording
the arrangements made and the steps taken for the event.
d. The report and the connected records shall be properly
maintained and kept ready, so that they can be produced
before the appropriate authority or Court if any untoward
incident takes place.
18. In case of non-compliance, the respondents shall be held liable.
19. In view of the aforesaid, the present petition is disposed of.
20. Pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of.
AMIT MAHAJAN, J
NOVEMBER 2, 2026
DU
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:SHIKHA
SEHGAL
Signing Date:03.11.2026
19:31:09
W.P.(C) 4143/2025 Page 7 of 7