The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit relating to the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), observing that “someone has to be held accountable in such kind of cases”.
The fire, which broke out on December 6, claimed the lives of 25 people.
A division bench comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and Prithviraj Chavan also directed the Goa government to file a reply explaining the process and permissions granted for the operation of such establishments, particularly the ill-fated nightclub.
The plea was originally filed as a civil suit by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was constructed. While converting the matter into a PIL, the bench underscored the larger public safety concerns arising from the incident and reiterated that accountability could not be avoided in cases involving loss of life.
During the hearing, the court took note of serious lapses by local authorities. It observed that the concerned panchayat had failed to take suo motu cognisance of the functioning of the club and had not acted despite receiving complaints. The bench further pointed out that commercial operations continued at the premises even after a demolition order had been served.
Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, appearing for Amonkar and Divkar, was appointed as amicus curiae in the matter. He has been directed to file a detailed affidavit placing relevant facts and material on record.
The court has fixed January 8 as the next date of hearing.
In their plea, the petitioners highlighted what they described as “the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order”. They contended that these violations amounted to blatant contraventions of several state and central laws and posed “immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa”.
The petition also pointed to findings emerging from investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire, which have reportedly revealed several irregularities, including the absence of mandatory permissions to operate the establishment.
With the matter now proceeding as a PIL, the High Court is set to examine systemic failures and regulatory lapses linked to the tragedy, even as investigations into the fire continue.
