Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint filed in the aftermath of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub inferno, which claimed 25 lives, and has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police demanding their response.
The complaint was filed on December 10 by the All India Lawyers Union (AILU), Goa Unit, raising serious concerns over alleged administrative and policing lapses linked to the December 6 fire.
The GHRC, comprising Acting Chairperson Desmond D’Costa and Member Pramod V. Kamat, examined the complaint during its sitting on December 11. After perusing the submission, the Commission directed both officials to file their replies and remain present for a hearing scheduled on January 6, 2026 at 10.30 a.m. The notice was issued under Proceeding No. 88/2025.
The Commission’s order instructs the respondents to appear personally or through authorised representatives. Copies of the notice and the complaint have been forwarded to both the Chief Secretary and the DGP, with AILU also receiving a copy for reference.
The fire, triggered during a late-night performance, spread rapidly inside the tightly packed club, which investigators later found to be operating with severe safety violations, including absence of emergency exits, faulty fire systems, and overcrowding.
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage, with civil society groups, lawyers’ associations, and victims’ families demanding accountability. The GHRC’s intervention is seen as a significant step toward examining systemic lapses that may have contributed to the high casualty count.
As the state government and police continue their investigation, and with multiple arrests already made, the Commission’s upcoming hearing is expected to shine a sharper light on institutional responsibility and enforcement failures leading up to one of the deadliest fire incidents in Goa’s recent history.
