Gujarat High Court Slams BJP State Government: ‘We Do Not Have Faith in State Machinery’

The Gujarat High Court has harshly criticized the state government and the Rajkot civic body for their negligence and inaction following a devastating fire at the TRP gaming zone that claimed 35 lives. On Monday, a Special Bench comprising Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai expressed severe discontent with the state machinery, accusing it of only reacting after tragedies occur.

“We do not have faith in the state machinery now. Four years after orders of this court, this is the sixth incident that has happened. They only want lives to be lost and then trigger the machinery,” the Bench remarked. This statement underscores the court’s frustration with the repeated lapses in safety and enforcement that have led to multiple fatal incidents.

The court was addressing a suo motu notice concerning the fire tragedy that occurred on May 25. During the hearing, the Bench questioned the Rajkot civic body’s failure to take preemptive action against the gaming zone, which was operating without the necessary approvals. The justices demanded accountability and directed municipal commissioners to file individual affidavits detailing their actions and compliance with safety regulations. Additionally, the court instructed the chief fire officers of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot to submit affidavits on the fire safety measures implemented in their respective cities.

The High Court’s intervention highlights a systemic issue of neglect and insufficient enforcement of safety standards. The fire at the TRP gaming zone not only exposed the lapses in regulatory oversight but also raised broader concerns about the effectiveness of fire safety measures in the region. Despite previous court orders aimed at improving safety protocols, this incident marks the sixth major fire tragedy in four years, reflecting a troubling pattern of inaction and inadequate preventive measures.

The court’s strong stance is a call for urgent and comprehensive reforms in how safety regulations are enforced. By demanding affidavits from top officials, the High Court aims to hold responsible parties accountable and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. The affidavits will need to outline the specific steps taken by the municipalities and fire departments to enforce fire safety standards and address any identified gaps in their processes.

This tragic event has reignited public and judicial scrutiny over the state and local governments’ roles in safeguarding lives. The High Court’s pointed remarks suggest a prolong frustration with the bureaucratic inertia and the perceived indifference of authorities toward enforcing critical safety measures.