The has mandated a controlled, three-day joint inspection of the premises located at 15G, Mirza Ghalib Street, Kolkata, following a catastrophic fire that occurred on . Justice Arjun Ray Mukherjee, presiding over the , directed that occupants be permitted to access the sealed structure between November 5 and , specifically between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. This aims to facilitate the retrieval of personal belongings, essential documents, and critical banking papers that remained trapped inside the building since the emergency evacuation.
The directive follows a series of legal challenges brought forward by , including the occupants of the premises and , who contested the order issued by the on the morning of the blaze. The August fire, which broke out at approximately 2:07 a.m., resulted in a tragic loss of life, with nine fatalities reported, including visitors who had arrived in the city for medical treatments. The intensity of the fire and the subsequent concerns regarding structural integrity prompted the fire department to invoke , ordering an immediate evacuation of the five-story structure.
The legal proceedings took a procedural turn on , when a acknowledged the urgent need for residents to recover their personal effects. During the most recent hearing, the court formally accepted a letter from the of the , dated , which confirmed that logistical arrangements for a secure inspection could be finalized by November 5. To ensure compliance and safety, the court ordered the joint inspection to occur under the supervision of a responsible officer from the and a representative from the local police station.
The court’s decision addresses a point of significant contention regarding the authority to open sealed premises. Under the prevailing
, the removal of official seals is strictly regulated. As noted in the proceedings,
"
provides that no person shall remove such seal except under a written order made by the Director or the superior nominated authority
or on an application made by the owner or occupier."
By issuing this order, the High Court has bypassed the immediate impasse between the occupants and the fire department, creating a temporary, lawful pathway for citizens to reclaim their private property in the wake of the tragedy.
Beyond the immediate retrieval of belongings, the court tackled the unresolved administrative grievance regarding the continued closure of the premises. Counsel for the highlighted that a formal representation submitted to the on , had remained pending without a decision. Justice Mukherjee, emphasizing the necessity of administrative accountability, instructed the respondent authorities to take immediate action on the pending plea.
"I direct the respondent No. 2 to consider the representation of the
dated
within two weeks from the date of communication of this order after extending an opportunity of hearing to the
and any other occupiers or owners or interested persons and to pass a
within a week from the date of such hearing, in accordance with law,"
the order states. This requirement for a "
" ensures that any future decisions regarding the habitation status of the building must be grounded in verified findings rather than
.
The fire at 15G, Mirza Ghalib Street has brought broader concerns about fire safety compliance in Kolkata's high-density areas to the forefront. Reports following the incident highlighted potential shortcomings in the building's infrastructure, specifically noting deficiencies in emergency exits and fire suppression systems. The tragedy, which involved guests at several hotels housed within the complex, has prompted heightened scrutiny from the and fire safety regulators. For many of the survivors and business owners, the current High Court intervention serves as the first step toward assessing their losses and seeking a path forward regarding the future status of the commercial premises.
The presence of various stakeholders in the court—including representatives for the state, the , and the local electrical supply company, —underscores the complexity of re-occupying a building that has been declared dangerous and unfit for habitation. The court’s order for a joint inspection acts as a balancing mechanism, acknowledging both the dire need to protect citizens' property rights and the overriding public interest in maintaining safety standards established by the West Bengal Fire Services Act.
While the current order is limited to the retrieval of specific items, the court’s mandate for a hearing process ensures that the affected parties will have a platform to challenge the findings of the fire department if they believe the closure is disproportionate or lacks a factual basis. As the inspection period commences, the focus will shift toward the outcome of the administrative review by the Fire Department. The parties involved are now required to maintain strict adherence to the timelines set by the court to ensure the safe execution of the inspection without compromising the ongoing investigation into the fire’s origins.
As of the latest court sitting, the matter of the primary fire safety violations remains subject to subsequent . The court has disposed of the current , effectively tasking the relevant authorities with providing a transparent and timely conclusion to the grievances raised by the occupants. The process initiated by the High Court ensures that for at least a brief window, the owners and occupiers of the damaged structure can address their immediate needs, marking a procedural milestone in the aftermath of the city's significant fire disaster. The next stage of the process now rests on the Fire Department’s upcoming hearing and their forthcoming , which will determine the long-term status of the building.
building inspection - fire safety compliance
