AHMEDABAD: The state government’s decision not to make its Fire Safety Act, 2013 applicable in areas under municipal corporations has drawn severe criticism from the Gujarat high court, which also sought an explanation as to why the eight municipal corporations in the state have been exempted from this law.

During the hearing of a PIL seeking action in the August 17 Shrey Hospital fire case, Chief Justice Vikram Nath commented that not applying the law in urban areas is like a fraud on the people.

This was after advocate Amit Panchal filed the PIL and reminded the HC that the law that the state government enacted in 2014 has penal provisions for defaulters but unfortunately such defaulters in urban areas such as Ahmedabad are exempt.