The Bombay High Court has ruled that the state government cannot distance itself from responsibility in the December 2025 Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire tragedy in Goa, holding that regulatory failures contributed directly to the loss of 25 lives.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Suman Shyam and Amit Jamsandekar observed that enforcement of fire safety norms, licensing requirements and regulatory compliance falls squarely within the state’s domain. The court said the government cannot avoid liability merely because the establishment was privately owned.

The bench noted that the tragedy amounted to a serious breakdown of oversight and raised concerns over violation of fundamental rights arising from the lapses.

Wider scrutiny of local bodies

In a significant move, the high court expanded the scope of the proceedings beyond the nightclub itself. All village panchayats across Goa have been directed to file affidavits detailing construction permissions, trade licences and no-objection certificates issued over the past five years.

Particular attention is being given to coastal panchayats to determine whether commercial establishments were cleared without proper compliance or whether hazardous premises were allowed to operate unchecked.

Compensation and recovery process

The court expressed dissatisfaction over the limited ad-hoc compensation provided so far to the families of the victims. It directed the state government to immediately release full compensation, making it clear that the government would be entitled to recover the amount from those ultimately found responsible.

To safeguard this recovery, the bench indicated that coercive steps, including attachment of properties belonging to the nightclub management and other accused persons, could be considered.

Authorities have also been asked to furnish a complete disclosure of assets held by the accused to ensure compensation recovery can be effectively enforced.

Parallel criminal investigation

The judicial proceedings are continuing alongside an ongoing criminal probe into the incident in Arpora. The court noted that the concerned panchayat secretary and sarpanch are in custody, while the nightclub owners were brought to Goa during the investigation to face charges linked to the blaze and alleged documentation irregularities.

The fire reportedly began in an underground kitchen area late at night. The high court had earlier converted related civil proceedings into a suo motu public interest litigation to ensure accountability is fixed and systemic safeguards are strengthened.

The state government has been directed to submit a detailed compliance report, including updates on compensation disbursal, at the next hearing scheduled for February 24, 2026.

Telangana’s latest urban local body elections have produced contrasting outcomes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the party opting out of the mayoral contest in Nizamabad even as it secured a decisive win in Karimnagar.

In the 60-member Nizamabad Municipal Corporation (NMC), the BJP won 28 seats, falling three short of the majority mark of 31. Despite emerging as the single largest party, Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind announced that the party would not enter the race for Mayor.

“We earned the people’s mandate through trust and conviction. The rest is arithmetic. Horse-trading is not my path,” Arvind said, indicating that the party would avoid post-poll negotiations to secure additional support.

With the BJP stepping aside, attention has turned to possible coalition arrangements between the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Although AIMIM is not the largest bloc, it holds a potentially decisive role in a fractured mandate where ex officio votes could determine the final outcome.

Under the system, elected representatives such as MLAs and MPs registered in the city are entitled to vote in the mayoral election. For instance, if a party has two MLAs and one MP eligible to vote, it gains three additional votes, which could alter the balance in a secret ballot.

Karimnagar delivers clear majority to BJP

The situation in Karimnagar was markedly different. In the 69-member council, the majority mark stands at 35. However, after the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) boycotted the session, the effective majority figure dropped to 31.

With 34 corporators backing it, the BJP crossed the revised threshold comfortably and secured the mayoral post.

Kolagani Srinivas, corporator from the 2nd Division, was chosen as Mayor, while Sunil Rao was named Deputy Mayor. The appointments were finalised by Telangana BJP state president N Ramchander Rao, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

Srinivas, a former student activist associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), has risen through the party ranks from its youth wing to the mayoral office. Party leaders described his elevation as a recognition of grassroots leadership.

While the Congress registered strong performances across several urban centres in Telangana, the BJP’s results in both Nizamabad and Karimnagar mark its most significant urban gains in the state since the 2020 civic polls.

Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has once again stirred controversy with sharp remarks against senior leaders of his party. In an interview with media, the former Union Minister criticised Shashi Tharoor, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, while also expressing doubts over the Congress’s prospects in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.

Aiyar said he does not believe the Congress will win in Kerala, claiming that party leaders are deeply divided. According to him, internal rivalries are stronger than their opposition to the Left parties.

Sharp words for party colleagues

During the interaction, Aiyar described Pawan Khera as a “puppet” and questioned his role as a party spokesperson. He said if the Congress cannot find someone other than Khera to speak for the party, it would remain in its current condition.

He also took aim at Shashi Tharoor, calling him “anti-Pakistan” and suggesting that the four-time Thiruvananthapuram MP harbours ambitions of becoming the country’s next foreign minister. In addition, Aiyar remarked that Jairam Ramesh, who handles party communications, has to “keep his job”.

The comments come at a time when Tharoor has reportedly had differences with sections of the party leadership over certain issues.

Praise for Pinarayi Vijayan adds to row

The latest remarks follow an earlier controversy in which Aiyar publicly praised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a seminar in Thiruvananthapuram titled “Vision 2031: Development and Democracy”. He had predicted that the Left leader would continue as Chief Minister after the upcoming polls.

At the event, Aiyar credited Kerala’s progress in Panchayati Raj and said the state had fulfilled former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s vision. Addressing Vijayan, he said he would “fall at your feet” and requested him to carry forward what he described as the Congress’s unfinished agenda.

The remarks drew criticism within party circles, especially as the Congress is preparing to contest the Assembly elections against the Left in Kerala.

Congress responds

The Congress was quick to distance itself from Aiyar’s statements. Pawan Khera said that Aiyar has had no connection with the party for the past few years and that he speaks purely in his personal capacity.

Jairam Ramesh also responded, asserting that the people of Kerala would bring the United Democratic Front back to power and claiming that the Left Democratic Front and the BJP are covert partners.

Aiyar’s latest comments have once again put the Congress in an uncomfortable position as it prepares for key electoral battles.