- 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.
