The Gujarat High Court issued a stern reprimand to the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) on Monday following significant security oversights at a gaming zone where a devastating fire claimed the lives of 28 people, including nine children.

A special bench, consisting of Justice Biren Vaishnav and Justice Devan Desai, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state machinery, questioning how such a tragedy could occur despite previous court orders mandating safety measures. The gaming zone operators had reportedly been operating without the mandatory permissions and licenses from the RMC.

The court criticized the RMC officials sharply, stating, "All this was going on for two-and-a-half years, so did you fall asleep? Or did you go blind?" When the RMC argued that the gaming zone had not sought the required permissions, the bench retorted, "Even after four years of our order, if no steps were taken in the matter of fire safety, then how is the RMC not responsible?"

Photographs of officials present at the gaming zone during the incident were also scrutinized by the court. "What were these officers doing there? Did they go to play?" the bench questioned, highlighting the lack of accountability.

The Gujarat High Court took suo motu cognizance of the fire at the TRP Game Zone on Sunday, labeling it a "man-made disaster" caused by the failure to obtain necessary approvals from competent authorities.

The blaze, which erupted on Saturday, was reportedly triggered by welding work at the game zone. The facility lacked a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department and had only one entry-exit point, which exacerbated the spread of the fire. Additionally, large quantities of petrol and diesel stored at the zone worsened the situation.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited the site to assess the aftermath, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established to investigate the incident. The SIT has been instructed to submit a report within 72 hours.

Three individuals, including the owner and manager of the gaming zone, have been arrested, and charges have been filed against six people under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The Gujarat DGP has ordered inspections of all gaming zones in the state, with instructions to shut down any operating without fire safety permissions.

The Gujarat government also announced the suspension of six officials in connection with the fire at the Rajkot gaming zone, citing "gross negligence in allowing the game zone to operate without necessary approvals."