Today, On 26th May, The Gujarat High Court ruled the Rajkot Game Zone fire, which resulted in multiple fatalities, a man-made disaster. The court emphasized negligence and lack of safety measures as contributing factors. Authorities have been urged to enforce stricter regulations to prevent such incidents. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for improved safety standards in public places.
Ahmedabad: A special bench at the Gujarat High Court spontaneously addressed the tragic fire incident at a Rajkot game zone, acknowledging it as a “man-made disaster.” The court highlighted the proliferation of gaming zones and recreational facilities lacking necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai instructed advocates from municipal corporations in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot to appear before the bench on Monday. They tasked with providing information on the legal provisions under which these establishments permitted to operate within their jurisdictions.
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On Saturday evening, a devastating fire swept through a crowded game zone in Rajkot, resulting in the tragic loss of 27 lives, including four children under the age of 12. Three others reported to be injured in the incident, according to official sources.
On Sunday morning, the Chief Minister of the state, Bhupendra Patel, visited the site of the incident on Nana-Mava road and also made a trip to the hospital where the injured individuals were receiving treatment.
The court observed,
“We are shocked to read newspaper reports which indicate that the gaming zone at Rajkot appears to have taken advantage of the loopholes in the Gujarat Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (GDCR). These entertainment zones, as newspapers suggest, have come up without the necessary approvals from the competent authorities,”
The High Court inquired of the state government and municipal corporations whether licenses, including those concerning compliance with fire safety regulations, granted to the entertainment zones within their respective jurisdictions. The court observed that according to media reports, these entertainment zones have been established without the requisite approvals from the appropriate authorities.
The high court stated that temporary structures were constructed at the TRP game zone in Rajkot to circumvent the challenges posed by obtaining the necessary permissions and no-objection certificates, including the fire safety NOC and construction approval.
The High Court highlighted that similar game zones have emerged not only in Rajkot but also in Ahmedabad city, posing a notable risk to public safety, particularly for children.
It stated,
“Besides the establishment of these gaming zones and recreational activities, they appear to have been utilized without authorization, as per our understanding from newspaper reports.”
The court emphasized,
“On initial observation, a man-made catastrophe has unfolded, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent children’s lives and profound grief among families.”
The court scheduled further hearing on Monday for the suo motu petition, instructing panel advocates representing the corporations to clarify the legal provisions under which gaming zones and recreational facilities were established or allowed to continue.
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Additionally, the bench granted permission for an urgent hearing on a civil application within a PIL concerning fire safety, filed by Amit Panchal.
Mr. Panchal asserts in his submission that the recent tragic fire indicates a failure to adhere to the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act of 1949, the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act of 2013, along with their associated regulations, as well as directives from the Supreme Court and the Gujarat High Court.