Kamala Mills blaze: Panel to submit report by Sept 10

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has allowed the committee set up to probe the Kamala Mills fire tragedy that occurred last year to submit its report by September 10.

The committee was expected to submit its report by August 31, but sought an extension as it was in the process of collating all information and preparing the report.

The bench of justice BR Gavai and MS Karnik was hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former top cop Julio Ribeiro, who had sought a judicial inquiry into the December 29, 2017 incident as the tragedy had claimed 14 lives.

The bench had constituted a three-member committee headed by former chief justice of Kerala high court, AV Savant. The other members of the committee are former chief secretary

K Nalinakshan and Vasant Thakur, an architect.

The committee was expected to look into the alleged lapses by civic officials as well as look into whether norms had been violated by the restaurants and owners of the Kamala Mills Compound that resulted in the fire.

On Thursday when the matter came up for hearing, Anil Sakhare, senior counsel for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), made an application seeking an extension for the committee to submit its report.

“The committee has completed its investigation and is in the process of finalising and preparing the report, and hence seeks an extension till September 10 to submit its report to the high court,” said Sakhare.

The bench allowed the application and posted the PIL for hearing on September 17.