Gujarat High Court: In a suo motu cognizance of the boat capsize incident on 18-01-2024 in Vadodara, wherein total of 14 people died including 12 children and 2 teachers, the Division Bench of Sunita Agarwal, CJ. and Aniruddha P. Mayee, J. called upon the Secretary, Home Department, State of Gujarat, to submit a report on action taken in the matter by 29-01-2024.
In the matter at hand, the President, Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association, brought to the notice of the Court the news item reporting that “12 Students and 2 Teachers of New Sunrise School in Waghodiya area have drowned in Harni Lake where 82 children had gone for picnic organized by the school”.
The Court noted that the incident occurred at around 4:45 p.m. on 18-01-2024 and the boat was carrying 27 persons when it capsized. However, the Court noted that the boat had a seat capacity of only 16 persons. The Court also noted from the report that the boating is managed by one firm – Fun Time Arena, under the contract given by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. The Court said that the newspaper reports were ‘disturbing’ as there was complete flouting of the safety norms as the children on the boat had not even been provided life-jackets. The Court also stated that the whole incident shocked the conscience of the public in general. Therefore, the Court directed the Secretary, Home Department, State of Gujarat, to submit a report on action taken in the incident along with the affidavit of the Gazette Officer from the Home Department by 29-01-2024.
[In Re: 12 Students and 2 Teachers drown in Harni Lake, 2024 SCC OnLine Guj 624, Order Dated: 19-01-2024]
