SPOTLIGHT | Birch fire: HC seeks accountability

Suo motu PIL ordered: High Court takes suo motu PIL into the Birch by Romeo Lane fire that killed 25; to examine illegal commercial operations across Goa.
Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa appointed as amicus curiae.
The Goa government asked to file a reply detailing corrective measures and fixing accountability to prevent such tragedies.
Bench slammed that provisions allowing action against illegal structures exist but are often not implemented, calling them “dead letters” in statute books.
The Bench also observed that demolition orders passed by local bodies are frequently stayed by appellate authorities, allowing commercial activity to continue in illegal structures.
The court flagged cases where licences were granted even though structures were illegal.
The court said authorities must work together proactively and that fixing responsibility is necessary to prevent recurrence.
The court pulled up the local panchayat, stating it failed to act suo motu despite complaints and allowed operations to continue despite a demolition order against Birch.
The Goa government asked to explain the permissions granted to the establishment.
PIL and the writ petition to be taken up for hearing during the second week of January.