Uphaar fire tragedy: SC cuts compensation to victims’ kin

The Bench also drastically reduced punitive damages to be paid by Uphaar Cinema owners,Ansal brothers Gopal and Sushil,to the Centre from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 25 lakh.

While holding Ansals and erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) as jointly and severally liable to pay the damages,the court asked Ansals to pay 85 per cent of the compensation. The rest would be paid by the DVB,it added.

The Bench modified the high court’s order of April 24,2003 in which the court awarded a total compensation of Rs 18.5 crore.

The apex court also absolved Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Police of their liabilities to bear 15 per cent each of the compensation.

The court,however,retained the High Court’s mandate that the injured be paid Rs 1 lakh.

Fifty nine people were killed killed and 103 injured on June 13,1997 when fire engulfed the Delhi theatre during the maiden show of Bollywood blockbuster ‘Border’.

The Bench also issued a slew of guidelines for theatre owners and government authorities for safe and incident-free screening of films.

The Bench ordered a short documentary showing the dos and don’ts in case of emergency arising out of a fire be shown before the film.

It also directed that theatre staff should be properly trained in fire drills and evacuation in case of such incidents. There should also be mandatory half-yearly survey of theatres by government authorities on safety measures.

The next of kin of victims said they were disappointed with today’s verdict. One of the main petitioners,Neelam Krishnamurthy,who lost two children in the Uphaar fire,said,“We have been fighting for the last 15 years. Our fight was not about money. We wanted people to get safer public places and the only way to do this was by putting pressure on corporates. The corporates are being benefited by such judgments. So,many more Uphaars will happen.”

The fire had started in an electrical transformer in the basement parking lot of the cinema hall and then engulfed the building in the busy Green Park area of south Delhi.

Panic-stricken people in the hall had run to the exit points and many died in the ensuing stampede or were asphyxiated after being trapped in the balcony,as the fire exits were locked.

Meanwhile,the Ansals said in a statement: “ATCPL has already paid over rs 8 crore to the affected families and shall comply with the directions of the honourable Supreme Court given today by paying 85 per cent of the compensation. The company sincerely shares the anguish,pain and grief of the affected families.”