Digital Goa, Jan 13 – High Court has joined 52 additional parties in the suo motu petition related to the Birch by Romeo Lane fire incident, which claimed 25 lives. The newly added respondents include all coastal belt panchayats, the Town and Country Planning Department, Fire Services, Planning and Development Authorities (PDAs), and municipalities in CRZ areas. Former Arpora sarpanch Roshan Redkar and the club owners have been made parties-in-person to fix responsibility on them, informed AG Devidas Pangam. He said the court is serious about issuing effective orders and ensuring their implementation. AG added that the state government will urge the court to fix responsibility and ensure compensation is paid to the victims by those found responsible for the tragedy. While laws and orders already exist, AG said the suo motu proceedings will examine their actual implementation, with the court likely to start monitoring cases at an individual level to fix accountability.
