Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 15: The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit related to the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, where a devastating fire on December 6 claimed 25 lives, into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), observing that “someone has to be held accountable in such kind of cases”.

The division bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan also directed the Goa government to file a reply detailing the permissions granted to the ill-fated nightclub. The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 8.

The original petition was filed by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub stood. While converting the civil suit into a PIL, the court took note of serious lapses by local authorities, observing that the concerned panchayat had failed to take suo motu cognisance of the club and had not acted despite complaints.

The bench pointed out that commercial operations were being carried out at the structure even after a demolition order had been served. Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, who represents the petitioners, was appointed amicus curiae and asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.

Seeking accountability, the High Court asked the state government to explain the procedure followed in granting permissions to such establishments. In their plea, the petitioners highlighted what they described as an alarming pattern of statutory violations that remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices and even a demolition order.

The petition contended that the alleged violations amounted to blatant contraventions of several state and national laws and posed serious threats to public safety, ecological integrity and the rule of law in Goa. Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have reportedly revealed several irregularities, including the absence of mandatory permissions to operate the establishment.