Why demolition order against Rajkot’s TRP Game Zone wasn’t executed for a year: HC raps Gujarat govt

The Gujarat government on Thursday also submitted its “fact-finding inquiry” report in a sealed cover to the HC on the blaze. While going through the state’s affidavit, the CJ said that though the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials were aware that the TRP Game Zone was illegal, no action was taken against it despite a demolition order being served to the management in June 2023.

“A demolition order was issued by the RMC. One year has passed since then (till the fire incident). Why was it not executed? Where is the answer? That demolition order proves that officials knew that the structure was illegal,” the CJ said.

When Advocate General Kamal Trivedi pointed out that the current municipal commissioner has already suspended RMC’s town planning officer (TPO) and an assistant TPO for negligence, CJ Agarwal said it was not enough.

“Taking action against a few people will not help you. The working (style) has to be revisited. There are loopholes and lapses, which need to be taken care of. You cannot put this state in this situation. It is very serious that such incidents are happening,” she noted.

The bench also expressed displeasure over the state government’s submission that then RMC commissioner was unaware of the illegal structure because TPO and his office were dealing with the matter and the demolition notice was sent by TPO, not the civic chief.

“You can’t say that this was not brought to my notice. It’s not an excuse. Even I can’t say that. I have to take responsibility for everything, good or bad. This should be the approach of the head of an institution,” the CJ said.

“There has to be some system of check and balance… by only saying there is a mistake, nothing is going to happen… It is a kind of warning, a trigger that you should look at your house and put it in order… This is a state which has a lot of potential… you cannot put the state in this situation for the sake of, benefit of few officers,” she added.

Since a report from the state government-appointed special investigation team (SIT) is still pending, the court asked Trivedi to submit it as well as an action taken report on July 25, when the matter will be heard next.

The HC, meanwhile, orally directed the state to take action in relation to two courtrooms that do not have sufficient fire safety measures in place at Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) premises in Danapith.

The instruction came after advocate Amit Panchal highlighted that while AMC’s building has fire safety measures in place, two courtrooms in its premises — belonging to the additional chief magistrate — where records are stored, do not have safety measures in place and requires immediate action.

As the HC maintained that action has to be taken within a week, Trivedi assured the court that an inspection will be conducted on Thursday itself.

WITH PTI INPUTS