New Delhi

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has terminated the contractual services of Assistant Public Health Inspector (APHI) Prince Mann for alleged gross negligence and serious dereliction of duty in connection with the Malviya Nagar hotel fire tragedy that claimed 23 lives, officials said.

The action comes after the death toll from the June 3 blaze at Flourish Inn, a bed-and-breakfast establishment in Hauz Rani, rose to 23 following the deaths of two foreign nationals who had been undergoing treatment for burn injuries.

According to officials, Mann had recommended and cleared the health licence for the premises just a day before the devastating fire broke out.

An office order issued by the MCD's Public Health Department stated that Mann, who was engaged on a contractual basis in the South Zone, had kept a licence application related to a "Tea & Snacks (without seat)" establishment pending for 78 days after it was assigned to him on March 17.

The order criticised the official for failing to process the application within the stipulated time.

"He allowed the said HTL application to remain pending without any justifiable cause, thereby demonstrating a callous disregard for procedural timelines and official responsibilities," the order stated.

The civic body's inquiry further found that the field inspection conducted by Mann on June 2 was superficial and compromised.

"You purportedly conducted a field inspection of the said premises, which has now been found to have been conducted in a perfunctory and superficial manner. You wilfully ignored the patent discrepancies in the submitted documents and the factual position on the ground with respect to the operation of trade with gross violations," the order read.

The MCD alleged that Mann recommended the grant of the licence based on a "false and misleading inspection report", resulting in the application being approved and disposed of at the zonal level on June 2. The fire occurred the following day.

Taking a stern view of the matter, the Competent Authority observed that the inspector's conduct reflected a "complete lack of integrity and gross negligence", rendering him unsuitable for public service.

"Therefore, in view of the foregoing, the Competent Authority is of the view that your continuation in this engagement is deemed to be prejudicial to the public interest. Accordingly, your contractual engagement is hereby terminated with immediate effect," the order stated.

The termination order, issued under the authority of the Assistant Commissioner (Public Health), has been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner (South Zone), District Health Officer (South Zone), and other senior administrative and accounts officials for immediate implementation.

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The June 3 fire at Flourish Inn in Malviya Nagar shocked the national capital, triggering questions over safety compliance, licensing procedures and regulatory oversight at commercial establishments operating in densely populated areas. Investigations into the incident are continuing.