Kolkata, Nov. 3 -- The Calcutta High Court has directed a joint inspection of premises at 15G, Mirza Ghalib Street, from November 5 to 7 to enable petitioners to collect belongings, essential documents and bank papers after an August fire.
Justice Arjun Ray Mukherjee ordered the inspection between 10 am and 3 pm, in the presence of the New Market Police Station officer-in-charge or an authorised police officer and a responsible officer of the Fire department.
The order was passed on petitions by Ayush Kumar Murarka and others, and More Retail Pvt Ltd, challenging an evacuation order issued after a fire at the premises at about 2.07 am on August 19, 2026. The Divisional Fire Officer-in-Charge, South Kolkata Division, acting under Section 37A(1) of the West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950, directed residents and occupiers to vacate within one hour of service. The premises were vacated.
They sought access to retrieve belongings and documents. On October 28, a co-ordinate bench directed the New Market Police Station officer-in-charge to be present to ascertain a suitable date and time. On Monday, the court was informed that the police had proposed November 5.
The petitioners said their August 27 representation to the Divisional Fire Officer-in-Charge remained unconsidered. Referring to Section 37A(4), which requires a written order from the Director or superior nominated authority to remove a seal, the judge directed respondent No. 2 to consider the pending representation within two weeks of communication of the order, after hearing the petitioners, other occupiers, owners and interested persons. A reasoned order must follow within a week of the hearing. Both petitions were disposed of.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.