Ahmedabad, The Gujarat High Court issued a stern rebuke to the state government and the Rajkot civic body on Monday, highlighting their failure to prevent a tragic fire at the TRP gaming zone in Rajkot that resulted in 35 fatalities. The court’s censure comes amidst growing concerns about the adequacy of safety measures and regulatory oversight in public spaces.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during the proceedings, Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai articulated their disillusionment with the state’s reactive measures, which they believe fall short of protecting citizens proactively. “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.

The court, addressing a suo motu notice regarding the fire incident on May 25, questioned the Rajkot civic body’s lack of action against the gaming zone, which was operating without the necessary approvals. In a directive to ensure accountability and enhance safety protocols, the court ordered municipal commissioners and chief fire officers from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot to submit individual affidavits detailing their fire safety measures.

The strong stance of the Gujarat High Court underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to prevent future tragedies and to restore public trust in the state’s ability to safeguard its citizens.