Should more people lose lives to blazes in private hospitals, Supreme Court asks Gujarat

Apex court takes note of long rope given to violators of building and fire safety norms in State

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Gujarat government if more innocent people should lose their lives to blazes in poorly-equipped private hospitals and nursing homes after learning that the State has given a long rope to violators of building and fire safety norms despite an apex court direction for immediate compliance in December 2020. A notification issued by the Gujarat Urban Development and Urban Housing Department on July 8 has effectively allowed errant building owners time till March, or even June, 2022 to obtain a Building Use permission. The July notification has come in spite of the Supreme Court direction that COVID-19 hospitals who have not obtained NOC from the Fire Department should be asked to “immediately apply for NOC and after carrying necessary inspection, decision shall be taken”.