The Bombay high court on Tuesday asked the state government to file its affidavit detailing safety measures undertaken to protect the lives of devotees who will throng city beaches for immersion of Lo
The Bombay high court on Tuesday asked the state government to file its affidavit detailing safety measures undertaken to protect the lives of devotees who will throng city beaches for immersion of Lord Ganesh idols.
A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice A.A. Sayed was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO, Janhit Manch, following the mishap at Murud-Janjira beach near Alibaug where 14 students, 10 of them girls, drowned earlier this year. Thereafter, the state had filed an affidavit specifying interim measures. During the last hearing, the court had rapped the state government for seeking three months to fulfill required safety measures including erecting watch towers, tying nets at the shore, keeping trained, well-equipped lifeguards on all beaches, and keeping first aid and ambulances ready at all beaches. The court had also sought an undertaking to complete all safety measures within three months.
Chief general prosecutor, Abhinandan Vagyani, on Tuesday submitted the state’s affidavit in court, stating that India did not require nets and watch towers at beaches as unlike in foreign countries, there were no shark attack incidents here. After going through the state’s affidavit, the irked bench said,
“You have already not done enough for beach safety. You have taken 10 years to comply with your own GR and now, you want a relaxation in order which is criminal breach.”
