NT Reporter
Panaji
The High Court of Bombay at Goa will hear the issue of compensation for victims of the Birch nightclub fire incident at the next hearing scheduled for May 5.
During the hearing of a suo motu PIL, the High Court raised questions on liability and compliance with safety regulations and directed all parties to disclose their
assets to assess compensation feasibility.
The High Court highlighted the issue of the nightclub operating without a valid licence.
“We are less on the negligence but more on the
effect of you operating without a licence,” the High Court said. The court said such activities should not have occurred in the absence of a valid licence.
The defence counsel said that other clubs had operated in the same structure before his client, suggesting that the legality of the structure should be examined. However, the High Court
focused on fixing responsibility and providing relief
to victims.
The High Court sought to know the assets of all parties, warning that it would be “obliged to come after (the responsible party’s) properties if they don’t want to pay the compensation”.
Surinder Kumar Khosla, a respondent, has filed an application seeking permission to be represented by his wife, stating that he is unwell.
