CS' report before HC, blames district authorities for blaze

A high court-ordered inquiry by UP Chief Secretary into the June 19 Pratapgarh hotel fire has blamed district authorities for the incident in which 13 persons died, according to the petitioner's lawyer.
The report was today filed before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court which asked the the petitioner to file his objections, if any, and fixed July 19 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
A division bench of justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Rakesh Srivastava passed the order on a PIL seeking directions for a judicial probe into the incident and to ensure fire safety measures in buildings in Uttar Pradesh.

On June 25, the court had directed the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry into the incident and file a report.
"In the report, the concerned district authorities of Pratapgarh have been found responsible for the incident," said senior advocate HGS Parihar, who appeared for the petitioner.
The court had, earlier, directed the DM, Pratapgarh to file a personal affidavit regarding the fire incident in which 13 persons died and eight were injured at a hotel.
It had asked why the local municipal body was not taking proper measures for protecting life of people and why every time high court has to interfere in such matters.

On behalf of the state government, additional advocate general Bulbul Godiyal had opposed the PIL and sought time to file response.