Stephen Court fire: Ex-chief secy to head probe panel

Last week,Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen had said the government would set up an inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act to investigate into the incident of fire that broke out on March 23. Apart from Roy,other members of the committee include former DGP Dinesh Chandra Vajpayee,officials of the fire department,Kolkata Municipal Corporation,Kolkata police,CESC and the law department,among others.

The terms of references of the committee include investigating the cause of fire,finding out the preparedness of the fire department and the police and how this incident was handled,ascertaining the legal status of the building and whether the additional construction to the building was made in accordance with the law and checking if there was any act of negligence on part of the landlord and tenants.

“The committee has also been asked to prescribe a set of rules that should be followed to prevent this kind of fire,” the chief secretary said.

The committee will also look into the law under which additional constructions can be regularised and make necessary amendments,Chakrabarti said. Today,a group of officials including Kolkata police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti and other officials of fire,CESC and KMC visited the spot to decide on when the portion of the building which is intact could be reopened for its tenants.

“Our aim is not to shield anybody but to fix responsibility and punish those whose negligence and apathy led to this colossal tragedy,” the chief secretary said. He added that to keep one ladder in the heart of the town,a depot is being set up on the Maidan.

Cong demands judicial probe
Slamming the inquiry committee set up by the state government to probe the Stephen Court fire,the Congress demanded a judicial commission headed by a Supreme Court or High Court judge to look into the matter. “How can a committee with representatives from bodies like Left Front-controlled Kolkata Municipal Corporation and police,which are subservient to the ruling party,do justice? No administrative committee will reveal the truth,” CLP leader Manas Bhuniya said. PTI