A Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court has asked the authorities to dispose of ex gratia claims of the families of those killed in the 2025 Kumbh Mela stampede within 30 days of their filing. The Bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Satya Veer Singh — hearing a petition seeking the payment of ex gratia amount in the stampede case, pending for over one year — issued six-point guidelines for the district authorities to dispose of the claims. In the Kumbh Mela stampede on January 29, 2025, the state government had confirmed 37 deaths, promising an ex gratia sum of Rs 25 lakh to the kin of each deceased. A three-member judicial inquiry commission was also formed by the government to probe the reasons behind the stampede. Sanjay Kumar Sharma had filed a writ petition before the court, seeking directions to the authorities to pay him Rs 25 lakh compensation for his mother’s death in the stampede, along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum till the date of payment.…