The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has kept the petition over the SBL Energy factory explosion in Katol pending until the third week of January. The court wants entire inquiry process to be completed. The Central Government had sought closure of the petition, stating that the high-level inquiry into the explosion had been completed. However, a division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas adjourned the matter after hearing the petitioner’s arguments and considering an expert report. During Wednesday’s hearing, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out Section 9A(5), which contains provisions regarding the publication of inquiry reports.

 

The court also allowed an application filed by fire and explosion forensic investigator Nilesh Ukunde. It directed him to submit his expert legal opinion to the Central Government and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) within three weeks. The Central Government will have to take appropriate legal action based on the expert’s findings. During the previous hearing, the court had appreciated Ukunde’s work and said his assistance would be sought in every possible way in the case. Jammu Anand has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) over the explosion at SBL Energy Limited, an explosives manufacturing unit at Mauja Yenvihira in Katol taluka.

 

Around 25 workers were killed in the blast. The petition questions the action taken against those responsible for the incident. It alleges that the authorities failed to conduct periodic safety audits and that the factory did not comply with safety requirements under the Explosives Rules, 2008. It also alleges that the factory had not appointed a safety officer despite the requirement being mandatory. Advocate Arvind Waghmare appeared for the petitioner, while Deputy Solicitor General Kartik Shukal represented the Central Government.