Give details of or formulate policy to compensate firemen: Bombay High Court to BMC

The Bombay High Court has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) whether it has a policy to compensate firemen who died while on duty or provide jobs to the legal heirs of the deceased.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Prakash Naik has asked the corporation to file an affidavit by June 24, giving details of policy and if there is none then take steps to formulate one. The court observed: "There have been incidents in the city where firemen have lost their lives and suffered injuries. The BMC will have to place on record policy on compensation in case of death of firemen."

The direction was given during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a law professor Sharmila Ghughe, who has claimed that though the act has come into force in 2006 and subsequently in 2009 rules were framed, proper implementation is not being done.

The court also directed the civic body to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken for proper implementation of Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, of the fire audits carried out by it on new buildings which were granted Occupation Certificate in 2015.

The civic body had on the last occasion informed the court that it has been regularly carrying out fire safety audits and have issued notices to several buildings in the city and suburbs which have not complied with the rules in the act and even in some cases prosecution has been initiated.