Bombay High Court pulls up Maharashtra government over delay in implementing fire safety rules

The Bombay High Court today rapped the Maharashtra government for delaying the implementation of fire safety regulations within the State of Maharashtra. [Abha Singh v. State of Maharashtra & Ors].A division bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor pulled up the government over its delay while referring to a recent fire incident that took place in south Mumbai where people lost lives."Fire incidents appear to be on the rise. Every other day in this city there is a fire incident and there are reports of people losing their lives. This is a serious issue and no laxness can be accepted”, the Chief Justice said..The bench was referring to the recent fire accident that took place on December 2 in the Girgaon area of south Mumbai city where two citizens lost their lives. "The manner in which these two deaths have occurred...is this what you (government) want for the people in this city? To lose their loved family members like this," the Chief asked today.He added that it was not the Court’s job to prompt the government to act on such issues. "This is not done. Are we sitting here to prompt you (government) for every action? Is this our job? What is all this happening here?" the Court lambasted..The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Abha Singh in 2019 seeking the enforcement of draft rules and regulations from 2009 for fire safety in buildings vulnerable to man-made disasters. Additional government pleader Jyoti Chavan informed the Court on Wednesday that an expert committee had submitted its report in February 2023.The report was placed before the State Urban Development Department (UDD) for consideration and for taking steps to amend the Development Control and Promotion Control Regulations for Greater Mumbai (DCPR) 2034 (Development Plan 2034), Chavan said..The bench took critical note that although the report was submitted in February, no steps have been taken till date."We are in December now. What is the government doing? Any laxness cannot be accepted," the Court said. It proceeded to direct the Principal Secretary of the UDD to inform the Court by Friday if there is a specific timeline for implementing the safety rules.