Beyond Carlton moves Karnataka high court

The Karnataka high court on Monday issued notices to the state government on a petition filed by ‘Beyond Carlton’, a trust formed by family members of the victims of the Carlton Towers tragedy, to implement fire safety measures in high-rise buildings in the city.

A division bench headed by chief justice JS Khehar issued notices to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) and the chief secretary and has given four weeks time to them to file objections.

On February 22, nine persons died and 60 others were injured, many of them seriously, when a major fire broke out on the seventh floor of Carlton Towers, a business centre on the busy Old Airport Road.

‘Beyond Carlton,’ in its public interest litigation (PIL) petition, sought immediate steps by the state government to implement fire safety measures in high-rise buildings in Bangalore. It pleaded before the court to pass necessary directions under Section 13 of the Karnataka Fire Force Act, 1964, enabling the director general of fire and emergency services or any authorised person to check and ensure compliance with the fire safety on regular basis.

The PIL also wanted the court’s direction to provide necessary and essential fire-fighting equipment in all high-rise buildings; constitution of a joint task force in order to enable them to inspect all buildings on a periodic basis and prevent access to buildings which do not comply with the terms of the licences.