Harni Lake Tragedy : Gujarat High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance

Ahmedabad : The Gujarat High Court, adopting a tough stand in the Harni Lake boat capsize disaster that killed 12 children and two teachers, has filed a suo moto petition and requested a thorough action report from the state government.

Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddh Miyani asked the Secretary of Home Affairs to submit the report before the next hearing, on January 29th.

This dramatic move comes in response to a petition filed by Brijesh Trivedi, president of the High Court Advocates Association. Trivedi, emphasising the gravity of the situation and the severe carelessness involved, sought the court to act and provide justice. Recognising the magnitude of the incident, the court promptly approved the petition.

“This is a serious case of negligence that has claimed the lives of innocent children,” the judge said. “Such negligence will not be tolerated.”

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has continued its investigation, with a focus on obtaining witness testimony from the youngsters who were aboard the capsized boat during the horrible occurrence. CB Tandel, the police inspector at Harni police station and a member of the SIT, acknowledged the continuing inquiry.

“We are taking statements from the children who were present on the boat at the time of the accident,” Tandel said. “Their testimonies will be crucial in piecing together the events and identifying the cause of the tragedy.”

The court’s demand for an action report demonstrates its commitment to hold individuals accountable for the safety failures that resulted in the catastrophic tragedy. The report is likely to outline the authorities’ response to the catastrophe, including rescue attempts, investigative progress, and measures put in place to avoid such tragedies in the future.

The Harni Lake catastrophe has sent shockwaves across the state, eliciting indignation and calls for justice. The High Court’s involvement provides a light of hope to the victims’ relatives, telling them that their loss will not be in vain.