The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to ensure that it strictly complies with the scheduled timeline to issue new fire safety norms for buildings in Mumbai. The court stated that the government cannot delay issuing the regulations citing the election process.
As per the timeline set by the state, between March and April, the town planning officers shall hear out people giving suggestions and recommendations. Subsequently, they will submit a proposal to the government.
By May 5, the Urban Development Department (UDD) must submit the proposal to the minister heading the department, and by May 20, the Urban Development Department has to issue the notification under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.
When the lawyer for the government, Additional Government Pleader Jyoti Chavan, told the court that “because of the elections, the notification may take time,” the bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor immediately said, “You can’t give elections as an excuse for non-compliance with court orders.” The bench, even in December 2023, had directed that the timeline “shall be strictly followed by all concerned.”
The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Abha Singh in 2019 seeking enforcement of the 2009 draft special rules and regulations for fire safety in buildings vulnerable to man-made disasters.
The draft regulations were issued in 2009 in the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. However, the government has been delaying it, the court has noted, on multiple occasions. Meanwhile, the Chief Fire Officer of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) filed an affidavit detailing the fire safety measures for buildings in Mumbai.
The affidavit stated that Mumbai’s 603.4 square kilometres area has 35 fire stations, 17 beat fire stations, 62 fire engines, 33 jumbo tankers, and specialised appliances which include fire robots, fire bikes, QRVs, hydraulic platforms, turntable ladders, among other equipment. The response time on average is 10-15 minutes and 15-20 minutes in the suburbs depending on traffic movements and the time of emergency, the Chief Fire Officer’s affidavit stated.
