New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the state government and others to file response on a plea seeking immediate action against illegal hotels and guest houses running across the national capital and violating fire safety norms.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V. Kameswar Rao also asked the North, South and East Municipal Corporations to file a response on the plea, which also asked for framing of policy and guidelines in a time-bound manner and its implementation to ensure periodic checks/inspections of all community halls, hotels and guest houses within their jurisdictions.

The court has listed the matter for further hearing on March 13.

The application was filed by advocate Arpit Bhargava who has sought fixation of accountability in relation to compliance with provisions of law, specially fire safety and structural safety norms.

He has also sought strict action against Hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh and compensation for family members of the 17 people who died in the fire there on February 12.

Bhargava said that there is also need of the periodic checks and inspections of the buildings in the national capital.

"...concerted effort must be made by all the respondents in taking action against all such guest houses and hotels spread across Delhi by immediately shutting down their operations and seal those who are found violating any provision of law specially fire safety and structural safety norms," the plea said.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation seeking action against illegal community halls that are running without any safety norms.