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 OA is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled "3 killed as major fire breaks out at perfume warehouse near Bengaluru" appearing in ‘The Indian Express’ dated 19.02.2024.

The news item relates to a major fire breakout at a perfume warehouse at Ramasamudra, close to Kumbalagodu on Bengaluru’s Western outskirts. As per the news item, the cause of fire is yet to be ascertained but as per the disclosure inflammable materials were stocked in the building which lacked adequate safety measures. It also discloses that an old house was converted into a perfume warehouse and three employes who were inside the warehouse at the time of the incident had died as they could not find a way out and smoke surrounded them. The news item does not reflect that any compensation has been paid to the family members of the deceased victims.

The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.

Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter 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 implead the following as respondents in the matter:

(1). Central Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary.

(2). Karnataka State Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary.

(3). Director of Factories, Boilers, Industrial Safety and Health, Bengaluru.

(4). Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate, Bengaluru.

Respondents No. 1, 3 and 4 are represented through their Counsel who have sought time to file their response.

Let notice be issued to Respondent No. 2 for filing the response before the appropriate Bench of the Tribunal.

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

List before the Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 28.05.2024.