Telangana HC expresses displeasure over State govt’s lack of clarity on Sigachi blast

Telangana High Court pulled up the State for failing to explain regulatory responsibilities concerning Sigachi Industries, where a fatal industrial accident occurred. The Bench sought clarity on compliance obligations, compensation details and agency roles, and posted the case to December 30.

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the State’s inability to explain the roles and responsibilities of statutory authorities tasked with regulating Sigachi Industries, where an industrial accident recently claimed multiple lives and injured several workers.

A Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, hearing a public interest petition on the incident, noted that despite earlier directions, the State had not come prepared to clarify compliance obligations applicable to a red-category industrial unit.

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On Tuesday’s hearing, Vasudha Nagaraj appeared for the petitioner. Additional Advocate General T Rajinikanth Reddy represented the State. Counsel Ashok Reddy appeared for Sigachi Industries. Three investigating officers DSP S Prabhakar, Inspector Vijay Krishna, and Deputy Inspector of Factories Gowri Shankar were present. They placed before the court a summary of the investigation as on December 9, detailing statements collected from victims, eyewitnesses, multiple regulatory departments, FSL experts, and medical professionals.

The Bench observed that neither the AAG nor the investigating team could give a clear account of the statutory duties of the various agencies involved, despite the unit being classified in the highest compliance bracket. The court granted two weeks for the officials to return with complete responses.

The petitioner reiterated that the compensation disbursed to injured workers remained far below what the company had publicly assured. The company sought time to file a counter affidavit placing on record the amounts paid and the sums proposed for the families of the deceased, missing and injured.

The court appointed advocate Dominic Fernandes as amicus curiae to assist in examining the broader regulatory issues. The matter will next be heard on December 30, with a direction that the investigating officers remain present.