Make Sure Community Halls Are Not Violating Fire Safety Norms: Delhi HC Directs Municipal Corporations To File A Report

Delhi High Court passed an order directing the local bodies in Delhi to file a list of community halls and banquet halls that are operating without a licence or in violation of fire safety norms.

The petitioner Arpit Bhargava and Varun Talwar contended that many community halls in Delhi are organizing weddings without the prior approval of Municipal Corporation (NDMC), and they are not following the first safety norms or other safety measures. Moreover, the NDMC has also not complied with the previous orders of the court which had asked for detailed counter affidavit to be filed in stipulated time.

The Division Bench of Justice Patel and Justice Shanker noted the gravity of the problem and opined that notices should be served to such establishments to comply with the norms. 'If they don't comply, bring them to us', the court said.

The court ordered the local bodies as well as the Delhi government to file a detailed report on the list of community halls are running either without a licence or in violation of fire safety norms within 4 weeks. The report shall also mention the number of notices served, to whom they were served and how many of these notices were not complied with.