‘Hotels sans fire safety measures are death traps’

While hearing a petition on shops and hotels that do not follow rules of keeping fire safety equipment, the Mumbai high court on Tuesday said that these places can become death traps for customers.

It also directed the BMC officers to visit and take action against the 21 hotels that have been mentioned in the petition to be functioning without the safety measures in place.

“Most of the hotels do not bother to follow the rules. Such establishments not only risk peoples’ life but also risk properties of others,” stated the bench.

The division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice A.A. Sayed were hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Dinar Sohani.

According to the petition, 21 hotels and major stores in Mumbai do not keep fire extinguishers or other fire safety equipment in their hotels, which is mandatory under the Shops and Establishment Act.

The petitioner, advocate Sohani, said he had written letters some establishments but in vain. He also said he had written letters to BMC to take action against them but no action had been taken yet.

According to Mr Sohani, most of the hotels in the list are in Dadar, Mahim, Matunga, Girgaon and Santa Cruz. Hotel Aswad in Dadar and Tambe hotel of Girgaon being two of the names mentioned in the list.

“While issuing certificates under Shops and Establishment Act, we generally check if all safety rules are being followed or not. But keeping the fire safety equipment active is the responsibility of shop owners,” said Trupti Puranik, an advocate representing the BMC.

The court has asked the BMC to file an affidavit regarding action taken it against the erring establishments.