HC Calls Out Odisha Govt For ‘Evasive’ Affidavit On Fire Safety At SCBMCH

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has taken exception to the affidavit filed by the Odisha government on the installation of required fire safety measures at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack.

Terming it as ‘evasive’ and ‘short’, the bench of Chief Justice Subhasis Talapatra and Justice Savitri Ratho said that it attempted to impart lessons on the basics of Orissa Fire Prevention and Safety act instead of complying with the direction issued by the court on August 14.

The state government was asked to file a detailed affidavit along with a comprehensive plan with the date by which the required fire safety measures will be put in place at SCBMCH. “Instead of filing a comprehensive affidavit dealing with the two important aspects, a very short affidavit has been filed giving a brief outline about what are required under Rule 13 (1) and 14 (2) of Odisha Fire Prevention & Fire Safety Act 2017,” the bench observed on Monday.

“We are really constrained to observe that we did not ask for the lesson of the rules. We wanted build-up of the appropriate fire safety measures in the SCBMCH supported by a well-coordinated network of CCTV cameras,” it added while hearing a PIL filed by Maitree Sansad, a local socio-cultural organisation, alleging inadequate fire safety measures at the premier hospital.

The state has been granted time till September 26 to file a comprehensive affidavit and the matter listed for September 29.