Rajkot Gaming Zone Fire: Gujarat High Court Issues Notice On Surat-Based Game Zone's Plea Challenging Closure

The Gujarat High Court Monday issued a notice on a Surat-based gaming zone's plea against its closure by the authorities following the TRP Game Zone fire in Rajkot which resulted in the death of 27 people earlier in May.

A single judge bench of Justice Sangeeta K. Vishen issued notice to the respondents including the state government and the Surat Municipal Corporation and listed the matter on August 12.

The petitioner–'Lets Jump Trampoline and Adventure Pvt. Ltd', argued that the petitioner's gaming zone 'Woop Dome' in Surat was holding all requisite permissions. However, following the tragic incident on May 25, the high court passed an order closing all gaming zones.

The petitioner's counsel Amit V Thakkar said that this gaming zone was also closed by a closure notice, citing certain reasons.

“Reasons were given because they had to give something according to me. Reasons were an eyewash and were without (affording an) hearing.,” Thakkar said.

He submitted that the petitioner had filed an application before the division bench of the high court seeking modification of a May 27 order wherein the high court had directed all state authorities that “no gaming zone throughout the State shall be permitted to operate till further orders”.

Thakkar said that on July 4 the division bench of the high court had dismissed the petitioner's modification application. However, Thakkar said, the petitioner was “relegated to challenge the action independently before the competent court”.

Thakkar thereafter pointed to the division bench's July order which said, “...There is no question for modification of the order dated 27.05.2024, inasmuch as, the Corporation is duty bound to ensure that no such gaming zones operate in the State which do not comply with the necessary conditions and requirements for running such activities”.

Thakkar thereafter said that in the present plea, the petitioner had prayed that the authorities may inspect the gaming zone within a stipulated time period and “if everything is found proper the gaming zone be allowed to operate”.

Twenty-seven individuals, including four children, perished in the massive fire that engulfed the game zone in Rajkot's Nana-Mava locality on May 25.

Before the division bench in its modification application, the petitioner had claimed that it had been running the gaming zone since 2019 after seeking requisite permission from the competent authority.

It further claimed that it possessed a Fire Safety Certificate, an Occupancy Certificate and a Stability Certificate.

It was subsequently sealed by Surat Municipal Corporation on May 26.

Case title: LETS JUMP TRAMPOLINE AND ADVENTURE PVT. LTD. V/S STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.