The Bombay High Court Friday appointed advocate Zal Andhyarujina as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the public interest litigations (PIL) relating to the stampede on the foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road railway station last week. Taking into account the seriousness of the matter, a division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Nitin Jamdar said it was inclined to appoint a lawyer to seriously pursue the matter and assist the court. Meanwhile, the court also pulled up the “so-called activists” for approaching it on the issue of safety of commuters only after the Elphinstone Road station stampede and asked why they woke up to the “serious and sensitive” issue only after the death of so many people. On September 29, a stampede on the stairwell of a narrow foot overbridge at the station left 23 dead and over 30 injured. At least four PILs have been filed in the HC seeking directions to the Railways to take measures to ensure that such an incident is not repeated at any other station. “The station concerned and bridge is in existence since 1867, according to the petitions. Till the incident everybody closed their eyes to the problem. Now after the incident, these so-called activists have woken up and come with PILs,” noted the bench. “This is a serious problem but these petitioners before us only want to self advertise. We are of the opinion that the cause is serious and sensitive and hence we will appoint a lawyer as amicus curiae to assist us in the matter,” said Chief Justice Chellur. The bench was hearing two PILs, one filed by Thane resident Vikrant Tawde seeking a judicial inquiry into the stampede and another filed by Smita Mayank Dhruva, president of Congress’s South Mumbai division seeking measures by the Railways for better crowd management. “All these prayers the petitioners should have sought before the incident,” said Justice Jamdar. The court has posted the petitions for further hearing after four weeks. It also directed Dhruva to file an affidavit stating what work she had done in the past towards the cause at the Elphinstone Road railway station. “Petitioner Smita Dhruva to file an affidavit stating as president of Congress party’s South Mumbai division what attention she paid to the congestion at the station concerned prior to the incident,” the court directed.
