The West Bengal government has initiated steps to constitute a high-powered committee headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court to investigate the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja tragedy. Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal today wrote to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, requesting him to recommend the name of a sitting judge to head the committee.

 

The move follows Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s announcement of a judicial inquiry into the incident. The committee will examine the causes of the tragedy, possible administrative lapses, safety shortcomings and the role of all concerned parties. It will submit its report within a stipulated timeframe. To ensure an impartial inquiry, the Chief Minister had earlier said that representatives of Kolkata Police, the Fire Services and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation would not be part of the committee.

 

The state government will take further action based on the committee’s recommendations.