The Gujarat High Court has ordered the State government to establish a fact-finding committee to investigate the May 24 fire at a Rajkot gaming zone and scrutinize the inaction of senior Rajkot Municipal Corporation officers. The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi, emphasized the need for an exhaustive inquiry, ensuring no responsible official is spared.
Highlighting repeated safety lapses in public places, the Court cited other recent tragedies like the Morbi bridge collapse and Harni Lake boat tragedy. The order stressed that these incidents reveal serious derelictions in duty by municipal corporations, putting human lives at risk. The Court also directed inspections of schools to ensure fire safety compliance, with reports due within a month.
The High Court noted that the Rajkot gaming zone operated without proper building use permission and used loopholes in regulations to erect unauthorized structures. A high-level committee has been mandated to identify the failings of municipal officials, with findings to be reviewed on July 4.
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