Gujarat High Court Criticizes State, Civic Authorities Over Unauthorised Gaming Centres, Orders Strict Action - 2024-05-28

Today, the Gujarat High Court sharply criticized the Rajkot municipal body and the state government after it was revealed that two gaming zones in Rajkot had been operating for over two years without the necessary permits.

The hearing was conducted before a division bench comprising Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan M. Desai. The bench stated, "It is most unfortunate that it is only the death of innocent children and the young ones have opened the eyes of authorities at a stage when the families of Rajkot have lost their loved ones."

The court expressed its frustration, stating, "Have you gone blind? Did you fall asleep? Now we do not trust the local system and the state government," upon learning that the gaming centre had been constructed on unauthorized premises.

The court's anger intensified when informed that these gaming zones had been functioning for over 24 months without essential permits, including fire safety certificates. The court declared its diminishing trust in the state government, following the Rajkot municipal body's admission that they had not granted approval.

Advocate Manisha Luv Kumar Shah, representing the state government, acknowledged that two other gaming zones in Ahmedabad were also operating without the necessary permissions. It was further submitted before the court that the state has established a special investigation team, headed by the Additional Director General of CID-Crime and comprising senior officers from the state government.

Furthermore, she stated that an FIR had been filed, and the owner of the gaming zone, Mr. Yuvraj , had been arrested, along with the manager. Steps are being taken to ensure the arrest of the remaining owners of the gaming zone, and a lookout notice has been issued.

The court, referencing submissions from the counsel for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, noted, "blatant inaction on the part of the authorities of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation." The court observed, "but for connivance of the authorities within the corporation including its officers, the police department, and the authorities of the roads and building departments at the local level the gaming zone where the tragedy occurred, could not have flourished under the very eyes of the police authorities and the Rajkot Municipal Corporation."

The court directed the incumbent commissioner of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, as well as the officers who held the position from July 2021 until the date of the incident, to file affidavits before the court. The affidavits must explain what actions were taken regarding compliance with regulations, obtaining certificates, conducting periodic checks, and collecting licenses.

The court also directed the commissioners of the Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat municipal corporations to file affidavits explaining their actions to ensure compliance with the court's orders in the fire safety PIL. They must also detail whether periodic checks were conducted and propose future actions for strict fire safety measures.

Additionally, the court directed the commissioners to provide a list of gaming zones and recreational centers in their jurisdictions, indicating whether these establishments are in compliance or non-compliance with regulations. Instructions have been issued across the state to halt all gaming zones pending further investigation and inquiries.