Rajkot Fire Tragedy

Gujarat High Court today heard a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Amit Panchal following the Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire tragedy that left 27 people dead.

Disappointed by the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities, the bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pravin Trivedi said, “There should be a disciplinary inquiry and fact-finding inquiry as to whose fault was there in every mishap.”

“Three incidents of the recent past –Morbi bridge collapse, Harni boat capsize and Rajkot fire – have one thing in common, that municipal corporations are not working efficiently,” said the HC bench.

The high court further said, “Municipal commissioners cannot say that they were not aware of anything, and if they do, let the urban secretary and urban department sound a note of discord, submit a report in writing to us. We will see from the first brick of the property.”

“We are not accepting any affidavit of any commissioner or officer, the municipal secretary has to conduct a fact-finding inquiry from the first pillar laid till the day it was completed. We are issuing directions to the principal secretary of urban development and urban housing department to give a disciplinary report of the department, to constitute a high-level committee of three senior officials by June 16 and give an inquiry report by July 4,” directed HC.

“Simultaneously, the principal secretary of the education department should constitute a team to carry out district-wise inspection of all categories of schools including pre-primary, primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools within one month,” added HC.

The HC also emphasised that they are not waiting for the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report. “It is not a departmental authority, each authority will have to conduct a probe of every department working efficiently,” said HC.

Regarding the photo that had gone viral on social media of officials attending the inaugural ceremony of TRP Game Zone in Rajkot, the HC rebuked the government, “Why have you not taken action against the officials who went to the inaugural function of TRP Game Zone? How could they go to a place which is illegally constructed, and if they are going, they at least know that there is a place like this.” 

“Without permission, electricity should not be supplied,” said the court. 

During the hearing, advocate Panchal said that it is necessary to have a fire prevention system as per the rules in places like high-rise buildings, hospitals, etc, and regular checks should be conducted. Furthermore, he stated that without permission, electricity should not be supplied.