Kolkata, 16 September (H.S.): The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday quashed a notice issued by the Fire Department directing the vacation of the Trinamool Congress office on Camac Street in Kolkata. The office is associated with Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. However, a bench headed by Justice Krishna Rao directed the Fire Department to conduct a fresh inspection of the office and specify the fire and safety measures required there.

During the hearing, the court directed the Fire Department to issue a fresh notice to the Kalighat Trinamool unit, specifying the date on which officials would visit the office for another inspection. Following the issuance of the notice, the Fire Department officials will have to inspect the Camac Street office.

After the inspection, the department will have to inform the Trinamool Congress about the measures required to ensure fire safety and other necessary safety standards at the premises. The party will then have to undertake the required safety measures in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Fire Department.

The court also made it clear that if the directions are not complied with, the Fire Department would be at liberty to take action in accordance with law.

A few days ago, the Fire Department had issued a notice to the owner of the building on Camac Street, alleging that adequate fire-safety arrangements were not in place on the seventh and eighth floors. The notice had directed that the floors be vacated immediately. Subsequently, the building owner asked the office associated with Abhishek Banerjee to vacate the premises.

The Kalighat Trinamool camp challenged the Fire Department's notice before the Calcutta High Court. During the proceedings, the court had earlier imposed an interim stay on the notice. On Wednesday, the court quashed the notice while laying down a procedure for a fresh inspection and for communicating the safety measures required at the office.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh