Gujarat HC says it doesn’t have faith in state machinery

Criticises Rajkot civic body over fatal game zone fire

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Monday expressed its lack of confidence in the state machinery, stating it only takes action after innocent lives are lost. The court criticised the Rajkot civic body for alleged lapses in the functioning of the game zone facility where a massive fire killed 27 people.

A special bench of Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai questioned if the civic body had ignored fire safety orders passed on a PIL for 18 months. The HC was hearing a suo motu PIL regarding the TRP game zone fire tragedy that occurred on May 25, describing the incident as a prima facie “man-made disaster.”

The bench inquired if the civic body was oblivious to such a large structure in its vicinity after learning that the TRP Game Zone had not sought the required permissions.

The bench noted that all commissioners of the Rajkot municipal corporation from the establishment of the TRP game zone in 2021 until the incident should be held accountable and directed them to submit separate affidavits.