A fire occurred at TRP game zone in Rajkot, Gujarat on May 26, 2024 and the earthmovers were used to clear the mess.
The game zone fire, which has claimed lives of 33 people led to heavy criticizes from Gujarat High Court about the Rajkot civic body’s actions over the incident when it said that it does not trust state machinery that only acts after innocent lives are lost.
The court asked RMC whether they allowed such a big structure to be built near them after the lawyer for RMC responded that TRP game zone had not applied for any permissions.
This was during the hearing of suo motu PIL by a bench consisting of Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai who heard a case relating to an incident of fire at a gaming centre in Rajkot.
According to the court, all municipal commissioners in Rajkot since establishment of TRP game zone in 2021 up to this time (May 25) “ought to have supplied their own separate affidavits” as they were responsible for what happened.
Among those killed were children; twenty seven people died in an attack by fire at TRP game zone situated in Nana-Mava area of Rajkot on Saturday evening.
As per officials, however, there was no fire NOC (no objection certificate) for running this gaming center.
On Sunday HC took notice of fire tragedy on its own motion, stating it prima facie looked like ‘man-made disaster’.
A counsel informed today that immediate preventive and corrective measures should be taken against unfortunate incidents like this one that calls for holding someone responsible and requires intervention by State Government without further delay
“Toh koi drust step lenge? Aur mei kehta hun humarey pass ab State machinery bhi nahi hai. Unka assurance dene key badh iss court ki unki adeshon ka command ke 4 saal baad yeh pehele wala dusra case ho gaya hai. Aur phir bhi usse pehle marey gaye the aur ab machinery ko chalu kara diya.” Court observed.
The court then asked whether RMC counsel knew about game zone’s application for this permission, which he said was not made to the authorities.
“You were blind to that, that this big structure existed, you were not aware of it? What is the corporation’s explanation that the whole zone existed for the last two-and-a-half years? What fire safety did they apply for? When ticketing was done, were you aware of entertainment tax? So we take it that you are completely turning a blind eye to the whole issue?” The court added.
Further more, HC sought clarification from Rajkot civic body on when it first acknowledged that a gaming arena operates within its jurisdiction
“Till then you were completely ignorant of such a structure in the vicinity? Were you not aware of the orders of this court for fire safety (passed) in a PIL? What were you doing then? There are media reports that your municipal commissioner went there at the time of inauguration. We can’t take judicial notice of that fact? For 18 months, what did the corporation do? Sat over it?” Bench asked.
It should be observed by the court that all the municipal commissioners of this city since 2021 when TRP game zone was created to date “ought to be held responsible for the tragedy” and demanded them to give individual affidavits.
“We are reframing from making any orders at this stage, but we would like it if the officers in question were suspended on grounds of dereliction of duties and disregard for our orders. We do not endeavor to do so with a view to giving them a chance,” continued the Bench.
The incumbent RMC commissioner and other commissioners who served as municipal commissioners between July 2021 till date must file affidavits before the court addressing various issues such as certification about structural stability of these constructions etc.
It has also ordered chief fire officers of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot Municipal Corporations (in their areas) to file affidavits on fire safety measures such as installation of fire hydrants, checking of fire safety equipment and whether licences (to operate) were obtained from respective Collectorates or Mamlatdars.
