In a grim reflection of the utter failure of state machinery to safeguard the fundamental right to life, the families of victims of the catastrophic April 1 fire tragedy in Deesa, Gujarat, have approached the Supreme Court seeking accountability and justice, claimed media reports.
We may recall that at least 21 workers, including seven children, were killed and six others grievously injured after a massive explosion triggered a devastating blaze in an illegal firecracker warehouse — an operation that shockingly continued without proper licenses, fire safety equipment, or official oversight.
According to reports, the petitioners have approached the apex court under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, invoking the “protection of life and personal liberty” clause, citing gross administrative failure and repeated dereliction of duty by the state. The Supreme Court Division Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh issued notices to all respondents on July 31, returnable on September 26.
The petition, filed by Chandar Singh Nayak — a labourer from Madhya Pradesh’s Devas village who lost six members of his family in the fire — seeks a compensation of Rs 2 crore per deceased victim and Rs 50 lakh per injured. Nayak, who works in Ahmedabad, lost his daughter, her husband, the husband’s siblings, and his daughter’s mother-in-law in the horrific inferno, reports added.
Filed through Advocate Utkarsh Dave, the petition tears into the State of Gujarat, holding its officials — including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Regional Fire Officer of Gandhinagar, District Collector of Banaskantha, and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Deesa — directly responsible. The petition calls for an immediate transfer of the investigation to police officers from outside Gujarat, underlining fears that “state government officers responsible for the tragedy are not given scope to escape the law”.
“A majority of the deceased migrant workers, who were brought by the warehouse owners from the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh, worked in the firecracker factory without any formal contract, with no or minimal safety measures and equipment,” the petition asserts.
It lists four other similar incidents since 2023 that underscore a recurring pattern of criminal neglect in Gujarat:
– April 20, 2023, Aravalli: Four labourers killed in a firecracker factory blaze.
– May 10, 2023, Bapunagar, Ahmedabad: Injuries sustained in a godown fire caused by illegally stored firecrackers.
– April 21, 2024, Vanch, Ahmedabad: Two killed in a blast in a firecracker facility.
– May 25, 2024, Rajkot TRP Gaming Zone: A deadly fire leading to multiple fatalities.
“Several persons lost their lives and many others suffered serious injuries to their person and property in these incidents due to the repeated failure of the State authorities who failed to keep a check on these illegal activities and, therefore, are jointly and severally liable to pay compensation to the kin of the victims and injured persons… In such cases, the state must see that the victims do not remain in the constant state of suffering and despair…” the petition states.
Slamming the “paltry compensation” announced so far — Rs 2 lakh by the Centre, Rs 4 lakh by Gujarat, and Rs 2 lakh by Madhya Pradesh — the petition terms the amounts a grave injustice: “It is submitted that the Central Government and the State Governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh announced paltry compensation amounts… by overlooking the fact that a majority of the victims were the sole bread earners of their respective families…”
The plea calls upon the Court to issue binding “directions” for the state government to immediately locate and carry out an inspection of all the firecracker manufacturing units in the State of Gujarat in accordance with prevailing fire safety norms.
Advocate Utkarsh Dave has categorically stated, “Gujarat has seen several tragedies in the past that have caused loss of lives due to negligence of authorities and repeated failure of the officials working in state government. Our petition is seeking that the amount of compensation should be enhanced, which can bring a life of dignity to the kin of the victims, if not closure in the matter… In the specific case of Deesa, we have sought that the investigation should be conducted by officers from outside the state of Gujarat so that the state government officers responsible for the tragedy are not given scope to escape the law.”
An FIR has been lodged in Deesa Rural police station against the warehouse owners who were illegally manufacturing fireworks in the premises where 21 lives were lost. Yet the fight for justice, accountability, and dignity for the victims’ families is now being waged in the nation’s highest court — against what the petitioners claim is an entrenched culture of state apathy and administrative lethargy.
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