vIndianz.com (24 Nov, 2009) — In an interim order on Tuesday, the Supreme Court intended for payment of compensation to the sufferers of the 1997 Uphaar cinema tragedy.
The court said the disbursement will have to be accomplished within one month and Delhi high court Registry will pay out the amount.
When the case came up for the concluding hearing today, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) required it to be adjourned to Wednesday.
The apex court observed, “Why should the victims suffer” and directed the Ansals to deposit nine per cent interest on the dues within two months, which would total to Rs 1.5 crore.
The Ansals told the court that they did not have funds and that the Uphaar Cinema would have to be mortgaged. The court allowed the Ansals to mortgage the cinema for paying up the interest.
The Uphaar Cinema fire, which occurred on June 13, 1997, claimed the lives of 49 people. On a petition by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy, the high court had on April 24, 2003, awarded a reimbursement of Rs 25 crore to the family of victims.
Holding the Ansals, the MCD, the previous Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) and Delhi Police licensing authority “guilty of negligence”, the high court aimed at the cinema owners to pay 55 per cent of the compensation. The left over 45 per cent would be borne uniformly by the MCD, the DVB and licensing authorities, each contributing 15 per cent.
In June this year, the Supreme Court had approved bail to the Ansal brothers – Sushil and Gopal – who were previously convicted and sentenced to a year’s imprisonment in association with the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy.
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