Calcutta High Court lets West Bengal name a retired High Court judge to head the Chorebagan stampede inquiry

20 October 2026

The Calcutta High Court, in Tapas Kumar Dey v. The State of West Bengal, has declined to monitor the investigation into the Chorebagan stampede of October 17 during Durga Puja and has left the State free to nominate a retired High Court judge to chair an enquiry commission into the failures, mismanagement and negligence behind it. The Court said whether a serving judge can be spared to head the Commission is a matter for the Chief Justice's discretion, and that if none can be spared the State may name a retired judge. A commission of this kind is appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, which lets a government inquire into a definite matter of public importance.