A Surat Garba event planned near Roman Dine Hotel on Puna Canal Road has been stopped by Saroli police after organisers allegedly failed to obtain mandatory fire safety, structural stability and Roads and Buildings department approvals.
Saroli police issued a notice to the organisers of JG Navratri directing them not to hold celebrations at the venue without the required licence and permissions. The event was scheduled from October 11 to October 20, according to the notice issued on Wednesday.
The notice said the organisers were required to obtain a premises licence by submitting documents and certificates mandated under government regulations. Police said the organisers had not submitted the necessary documents or secured the licence despite being informed in writing, verbally and over the phone.
The action concerns a venue near Roman Dine Hotel on Puna Canal Road in Surat. The notice was addressed to Shakti Gohil, a Varachha resident, and named Jay Gohil, Sahil Domadiya and Jaydeep Galoliya as the other organisers.
Saroli police inspector SR Vekariya told the Times of India that the police had not permitted the Garba programme at the venue on Thursday. He said the organisers had failed to produce several mandatory permissions, including clearance from the Roads and Buildings department, a fire safety clearance and a structural stability report.
The approvals are significant for a temporary public event because they relate to the suitability of the venue, the stability of structures installed for the programme and emergency safety arrangements. The police did not permit the event to continue until the required documents were submitted, according to Vekariya.
The notice also warned that legal action would be initiated if the organisers proceeded without permission. Vekariya said police would initiate legal action in connection with the first three days of Garba celebrations that were held without permission.
The police action places the focus on the regulatory checks required before large public gatherings can use temporary venues. Such checks typically determine whether organisers have secured the permissions required by the relevant authorities before allowing an event to proceed. In this case, police identified the absence of approvals from the Roads and Buildings department, the fire department and a structural stability assessment as the immediate obstacles.
The notice does not state whether the organisers later submitted any of the pending documents or whether the programme would resume after the permissions were obtained. Police said the event would not be allowed until all necessary approvals were produced, leaving the next step with the organisers and the authorities responsible for examining the documents.
The action follows the police warning that proceeding without the required licence could lead to legal consequences. The authorities’ stated next step is to review the pending permissions and initiate legal action concerning the celebrations already held without approval.
