AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the TRP Game Zone fire incident in Rajkot, calling it a man-made disaster caused by negligence. Notices have been issued to Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporations, and the state government for a hearing on Monday.
The Gujarat High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the tragic fire incident at TRP Game Zone in Rajkot, describing it as a man-made disaster resulting from the organizers' negligence. The court has issued notices to the municipal corporations of Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat, Ahmedabad, and the state government, demanding their appearance at a hearing on Monday.
Court's Observations
A bench comprising Justices Biren Vaishnav and Deven Desai asked the Rajkot Municipal Corporation under which legal provision they permitted the operation of the game zone. The court ordered the corporation to submit this information by Monday. The bench emphasized that proper regulations were not followed for the construction and operation of the gaming zone, labeling similar game zones on Sindhubhavan Road, Sardar Patel Ring Road, and SG Highway in Ahmedabad as public safety threats.
Advocates' Input
High Court Advocate Association chief Brijesh Trivedi and advocate Amit Panchal informed the bench that about 30 people had died in the incident, with the death toll possibly rising. They highlighted the severe burns sustained by victims, making identification challenging. Despite existing instructions from the High Court and Supreme Court on fire safety, such incidents continue to occur due to negligence, as the TRP Game Zone lacked a fire safety NOC.
Court's Critique
The High Court noted that the game zone was constructed on a residential plot without fire safety measures. People were allowed inside even during welding and repair work. The zone stored flammable materials, the emergency exit was closed, and fire extinguishers were not operational. Brijesh Trivedi, head of the High Court Advocate Association, demanded an investigation by a sitting judge.
This incident underscores the need for stringent enforcement of safety regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
