The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that there is no need to set up a judicial commission to look into the fire at Kamala Mills Compound, as disciplinary action has already been taken against erring officers.
Senior counsel Anil Sakhare told a Division Bench of Justices R.M. Borde and R.G. Ketkar that the BMC has already constituted a committee and disciplinary action has already been taken against the officers concerned. He also said that the investigation is under way, and the civic body will abide by whatever is decided by the court.
Twelve officers from BMC and the Fire Brigade have been booked for alleged negligence, and a departmental enquiry has also been initiated against them.
The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by former Commissioner of Police Julio Ribeiro seeking a comprehensive fire safety audit, and formation of a special investigation team and a judicial commission to fix accountability for the fire at 1Above and Mojo’s Bistro.
Mr. Ribeiro’s counsel, Sujay Kantawala, had highlighted the illegalities in the Kamala Mills Compound as per the Municipal Commissioner’s inquiry report. He had requested that a committee headed by a retired High Court Judge look into the violations in utilisation of the floor space index by the owners of Kamala Mills.
Mr. Sakhare said that the existing committee appointed under development control regulations, which is headed by a retired High Court judge, can look into all these aspects, and opposed the request to set up another committee.
The matter has been adjourned till Friday, and the court will pass an order on the appointment of a judicial commission after knowing the stand of the State.
