The Gujarat High Court on Monday slammed on the Rajkot Municipal Corporation following a devastating fire at a local gaming zone that claimed the lives of 28 people. The special bench, comprising Justice Biren Vaishnav and Justice Devan Desai, expressed a lack of faith in the state machinery, questioning how such a tragedy could occur despite previous court orders.
Gujarat: Today (27th May): The Gujarat High Court slammed the Rajkot Municipal Corporation following a devastating fire at a gaming zone that claimed the lives of 28 people. The tragedy, which has been described as a “man-made disaster,” has exposed significant security lapses and failures in regulatory compliance.
Today, a special bench comprising Justice Biren Vaishnav and Justice Devan Desai expressed serious concerns over the apparent failure of the state machinery. The bench questioned how such a catastrophic event could occur despite previous court orders mandating safety measures.
“This has been happening for two and a half years. Should we assume you turned a blind eye? What actions are you and your followers taking?”
the court remarked.
The court also criticized the Rajkot Municipal Corporation after photographs revealed officials present at the gaming zone.
“Who were these officers? Were they there to play?”
the court inquired
It further questioned the BJP-led state Government, asking:
“Are you blind? Did you fall asleep? We no longer trust the local system and the state.”
The Gujarat High Court took suo motu cognizance of the fire at the TRP game zone, highlighting that the loss of innocent lives was a direct result of inadequate approvals from competent authorities.
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The fire broke out on 25th May, reportedly due to welding work being conducted at the gaming zone. Alarming details have emerged about the facility’s lack of essential safety measures, including the absence of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department and having only one entry-exit point. These deficiencies facilitated the rapid spread of the fire. Furthermore, the presence of thousands of liters of petrol and diesel on the premises exacerbated the disaster.
In response to the tragedy, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited the site to assess the damage and coordinate the response. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the incident thoroughly. The SIT has been instructed to submit its findings within 72 hours.
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The Rajkot Police have registered a first information report (FIR) against six partners of the game zone on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Two of the accused have been arrested, while the others remain at large.
The FIR, filed by the Rajkot taluka police early Sunday, names the six individuals as Dhaval Corporation proprietor Dhaval Thakkar, Raceway Enterprise partners Ashoksinh Jadeja, Kiritsinh Jadeja, Prakashchand Hiran, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, and Rahul Rathod.
Three individuals, including the owner and manager of the gaming zone, have been arrested. Authorities have filed a case against six people under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) has mandated inspections of all gaming zones in the state, ordering the closure of those operating without proper fire safety permissions.
Solanki, a partner in Raceway Enterprise, which operated the TRP game zone, has been arrested along with the entertainment facility’s manager, Nitin Jain.
The six accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 337 (causing hurt by an act that endangers life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety), and 114 (presence during the commission of an offense).
In response to the tragedy, the Central Government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased person from the PM’s National Relief Fund. Additionally, Rs 50,000 will be given to each injured person.
The Gujarat Government has also declared an ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident.
