The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has taken a stern step, issuing a formal notice to the state's labour commissioner. This action comes in response to the failure to distribute compensation owed to the families of twenty workers who tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire. The incident occurred at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora on the night of December 6.
Federation Petitions for Justice for Migrant Workers
The case was brought before the rights panel by the Hotels Employees Federation of India. In their petition, the federation highlighted a critical lapse in justice. Subhas Naik Jorge, the federation's general secretary, emphasised that all twenty deceased individuals were migrant labourers. Their bodies were transported back to their native places by the government at state expense following the tragedy.
Jorge pointed to the legal mandate under the Employees' Compensation Act, which entitles workers or their heirs to compensation in cases of accident or death during service. He argued that since the legal heirs of these migrant workers reside outside Goa, the state government, and specifically the office of the labour commissioner, should have taken proactive, or suo motu, action. The goal is to ensure the rightful compensation reaches the grieving families.
Commission Directs Labour Commissioner to Appear
After reviewing the complaint, the commission, chaired by Desmond D’Costa with member Pramod Kamat, issued a decisive order. The notice explicitly calls for the labour commissioner to submit a detailed reply and to be present for a hearing. The commission has scheduled this hearing for January 29, 2026.
The order mandates that the labour commissioner must appear before the commission in person or through a duly authorised representative. He is required to present the commission's response to the allegations of inaction in securing compensation for the victims' families from their employer.
A Call for Proactive Intervention and Justice
In their appeal, the Hotels Employees Federation made two clear requests to the GHRC. First, they urged the commission to use its authority to ensure the labour commissioner's office actively works to disburse the due compensation. Second, they requested intervention to guarantee that the legal heirs receive the compensation directly from the employer of the deceased workers.
"We request you to intervene in the matter and ensure that justice is done in the case of the said 20 deceased workmen," Jorge stated in the petition. This case underscores the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers and tests the mechanisms meant to protect their rights, even after death. The GHRC's notice is a significant move toward accountability and securing long-overdue financial justice for the families affected by the Arpora nightclub fire.
