HC orders municipal commissioner, Auda chairman, GSDMA, chief secretary of state and chief fire officer to reply to PIL on fire safety measures.
The municipal commissioner of Ahmedabad, chairman of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda), chief secretary of the state, chief fire officer of Ahmedabad and the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) have been asked by Gujarat high court to file affidavits by June 29 in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in connection with fire safety measures in high-rise buildings in the city.
The PIL, filed by Prakash Nambiar through advocates Amit Panchal and Shivani Rajpurohit, said these authorities had not taken steps to ensure that adequate fire prevention and protection systems were installed in high-rises, despite “unequivocally clear directions having been issued to the respondents.”
Nambiar said in his PIL that the action of the authorities was “arbitrary, high-handed, illegal, unreasonable and irrational,” and that they had failed to provide infrastructure, staff and equipment to the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) to tackle natural and manmade disasters.
With regards to previous judgments of Gujarat high court and which have been confirmed by the Supreme Court, the PIL said: “It is submitted that directions are already issued by this honourable court in respect to what is stated hereinabove. However, because of the inaction or no action taken by the respondents, it is submitted that the present petition has been filed to ensure that the rule of law is followed and public convenience, safety and public interest are protected.”
In the petition, Nambiar said that nearly 900 of 1,300 high-rise buildings in Ahmedabad did not have adequate fire safety systems despite the authorities having been issued directions and their solemn statements made on affidavit before the court, and having complete knowledge of the situation.
There have been reports in the media about a major fire erupting behind a housing society, which was close to the entrance of a high-rise building. “In view of high-rise buildings not having adequate fire safety measures, there was a major concern in respect of the residents of the said high-rise building,” Nambiar said in his PIL.
The petitioner said there were 12 fire stations in the city, two of which did not have residential quarters for staff in order that they are able to satisfy immediate need in case of emergencies. “It is also learnt that despite proposals to increase fire stations, no action has been taken in respect of as many as six fire stations, which are proposed to be set up,” the petition stated, further pointing out the number of vacant posts in the fire and emergency department.
“Merely having four additional fire stations would not be adequate to ensure that public safety is taken care of. This would require recruitment of properly trained and competent fire personnel to handle disasters, and recruitment has to be made expeditiously and in accordance with the recruitment rules and the law laid down by the Supreme Court of India for that,” the petition stated.
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