India, Dec. 15 -- The Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday took suo motu cognisance of illegally operating nightclubs in the state, including those running from premises without requisite permissions, and sought responses from the Goa government. The matter will be heard in early January.

This comes after 25 people were killed and six injured when a massive blaze ripped through the nightclub - Birch by Romeo Lane - in the coastal village of Arpora in north Goa around 11.45 pm on December 6.

The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Diukar, who had approached the court with a plea that, despite complaints, authorities had failed to act against the illegal operation of Birch by Romeo Lane.

Arpora villag...