The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) will not halt its bid to pursue a disciplinary process against engineer Bruce Thomas, who worked on a high-rise apartment building that caught fire in February.

Mr Thomas was granted an interlocutory injunction in the Supreme Court of Victoria last week. This means the VBA cannot continue with its proceedings against the engineer until December 20.

In his application to the court he claimed the VBA wrongfully refused to allow him to surrender his registrations. Existing laws bar the regulator from taking disciplinary action against a practitioner if his registration has ceased.

CEO Sue Eddy told insuranceNEWS.com.au that The Supreme Court’s decision “may delay the disciplinary process involving Mr Thomas, but the VBA is still determined to hold him to account”.

“It is unacceptable for any practitioner to attempt to hand in their registration and simply walk away from their responsibilities, particularly when the allegations against them involve putting the safety of the community at risk.”

Mr Thomas worked on the 41-storey Neo200 building which was evacuated when fire broke out in February. A discarded cigarette sparked the blaze.

Fire chiefs said after the fire that the high-rise has cladding similar to that of London’s Grenfell Tower, which caught alight in 2017 killing more than 70 people.