Rajasthan high court bans construction permit to buildings of more than 32m height

Jaipur: The Rajasthan high court on Friday imposed a temporary ban on giving construction permit to buildings with a height of more than 32 meters.

The high court issued these orders on a petition that the authorities don’t have hydraulic ladders that can reach buildings of more height. The ban will be in force until the authorities don’t arrange for taller ladders. The high has also asked the state government to submit records of more than 32-meter tall buildings which have already secured construction permit.

The order was issued by the double bench of Justice M Rafeeq and Justice NS Dadhdha on a petition filed by one Kunal Rawat. The high court bench ordered the state government, principal secretary of local bodies and other officials to submit a compliance report within two months.

The court also instructed the authorities to launch a campaign against coaching centres, paying guest houses and hostels to check fire fighting arrangements there.

 The issue of the lack of fire fighting arrangements and fire NOC was highlighted after the Surat fire tragedy in which several children were burnt alive.

The JMC had launched a campaign to check fire fighting arrangements at coaching centres and hostels in the city, but it proved a mere eyewash.

Notices were served to over four dozen coaching centres and the JMC teams conducted an inspection. The coaching centres didn’t upgrade their fire safety arrangements. In fact, most coaching centres don’t have any fire fighting equipment installed.