In a stern reprimand, the Gujarat High Court has criticized the state government and the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) for their failure to enforce fire safety norms, following the tragic fire at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkot, which claimed 27 lives. The court questioned why the Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Anand Patel was merely transferred rather than suspended, given the gravity of the incident.
A bench comprising Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai initiated suo motu proceedings immediately after the fire on May 25. During the hearing, the court expressed its strong displeasure at the apparent negligence and lack of accountability within the municipal corporation.
The court was informed that RMC had served a demolition notice to TRP Game Zone in June 2023, a follow-up to an earlier notice in April 2023 regarding unauthorized construction. Despite this, no action was taken, and the facility continued to operate without the necessary fire department clearances or police permissions.
Advocate GH Virk, representing RMC, submitted an affidavit confirming these lapses. Justice Vaishnav questioned why only the town planning officer was fired while the municipal commissioner was spared. “The responsibility lies at the top. A demolition order was passed in June 2023. Then what happened after that? You remained silent till 27 lives were lost. You did nothing for one year,” Justice Vaishnav stated.
The court suggested that murder charges could be considered against the municipal commissioner, who was relocated following the high court’s earlier reprimand. The commissioner has yet to receive a new assignment.
An interim report by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is investigating the incident, highlighted the municipal corporation’s “serious negligence” as a key factor in the tragedy. The state government’s affidavit included this report and indicated plans to amend the Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations, 2017, to better regulate gaming activity areas.
Advocate General Kamal Trivedi assured the court that appropriate action would be taken upon the SIT’s final report, due by June 20. He acknowledged that RMC officers failed to act against the management or report the game zone issue to the municipal commissioner. The SIT has named these officials, ensuring they “cannot get away from the clutches of law.”
Justice Vaishnav emphasized the need for accountability: “This time, we want to see that no municipal commissioner, incumbent or present, of all municipal corporations, must be held personally liable for such incidents. They cannot just sit in offices and pass on the buck.”
Sources By Agencies