Recently, during a hearing on last month's fire incident in Rajkot, the Gujarat High Court strongly criticized Municipal Commissioners for significant negligence. The court questioned the practice of solely blaming contractors for fire incidents and asserted that it "would not spare even the responsible officers" involved.

The fire at TRP Game Zone, a gaming arcade in Rajkot, on May 25 claimed the lives of 28 people, including some children. Investigations revealed that the arcade was operating without a fire license.

During an earlier hearing, the court harshly criticized the civic body and the state government upon learning that the TRP Game Zone was not the only gaming arcade operating without a fire license. In Rajkot, two other gaming zones had been operating for over two years without the necessary permits, including fire safety certificates.

"Such incidents keep happening including in Morbi, Harni," the High Court said. "Why does the government cover the contractor only in such incidents? Municipal Commissioners are sleeping, hence accidents are happening due to such negligence... Now no municipal commissioner will be given a chance," said the two-judge bench led by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal.

"The Rajkot fire incident seems small to you... now you will not be able to save the officers," the court said.

The court was hearing a petition alleging that the Fire Safety Act, as mandated by the Supreme Court, is not being adhered to in the state. The petition also claimed that there was laxity in the investigation. Following the Rajkot fire incident, the Gujarat government has proposed a set of draft rules to enhance safety at recreational facilities.