News item titled "3 killed as major fire breaks out at perfume warehouse near Bengaluru" appearing in The Indian Express dated 19.02.2024 Vs

This original application is registered on the basis of the news item titled "3 killed as major fire breaks out at perfume warehouse near Bengaluru" published in ‘The Indian Express’ dated 19.02.2024.

As per the said news item, a major fire in a perfume warehouse broke out on the outskirts of Bengaluru in which three people including the owner of perfume warehouse have died and five others have been injured. The news item discloses that an old house was converted into a perfume warehouse where the fire broke out. The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. It reveals that in that premises inflammable materials were stocked.

The facts disclosed in the news item reveal that there is a possibility of involvement of hazardous substance in the accident and violation of the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.

Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.

Hence, we deem it proper to implead the following as respondents in the matter:

i. Member Secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

ii. District Magistrate, Bengaluru.

iii. Regional Officer, Central Pollution Control Board, Bengaluru.

Mr. Rajat Jonathan Shaw, Advocate and Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Advocate accept notice on behalf of Respondents No. 1 and 2 and seek four weeks’ time to file the response. Let Notice be issued to Respondent No. 3 for filing the response before the appropriate bench of the Tribunal.

Since the matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai, therefore, OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench for appropriate further action. Let the original record of the OA be transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai.

List before Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 19.04.2024.