[Garden Reach Building Collapse] Plea In Calcutta HC Challenges Unauthorised Constructions In Area, Seeks Court's Intervention In 'Stage-Managed' Inquiry

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday heard the mentioning of a plea pertaining to the collapse of an illegally constructed five-storey building in Kolkata's Garden Reach area, leading to the deaths of more than five people, and injury caused to many others living in the shanties nearby.

The plea was mentioned before a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya.

The petitioner stated that the building collapse had led to an inquiry, which would be conducted in a stage-managed manner, by none other than the engineer who had 'turned a blind eye' to these constructions when they were taking place.

It was argued that there were similar illegal constructions in the area, which were sought to be covered up through the inquiry.

The inquiry would be conducted behind closed doors by the very engineer of the corporation who has closed his eyes and let this happen. Nothing will come from this. I have filed a PIL on the issue about another 50 similar buildings that are coming up in the area, it was stated.

Accordingly, the Court noted the petitioner's plea, and listed the matter for hearing on Thursday.