The Supreme Court on Thursday reduced the amount of compensation that was awarded to 59 people who lost their lives while watching a movie at South Delhi's Uphaar cinema hall in 1997. The apex Court reduced the quantum of compensation for those who are above the age of 20 years from Rs. 18 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh, while those who are below the age of 20 years, the amount has been deducted from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 7.5 lakh.
Cinema Hall owners were asked to pay 85% of the compensation money to the families of the victims, while the Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) were asked to pay 15% of the amount.
Sanjeev Sen, counsel for the Muncipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said that after the pronouncement of the judgment, the owners will pay 85% of the compensation to the families of the victims. DVB has already complied with the court order and has paid 15 per cent while the court has set aside the compensation to be paid by the Delhi Police and MCD.
He added that the Delhi Police has already paid certain amount as extra-gratia.
Neelam Krishnamurthy, who had lost her two children in the blaze and who is the convenor of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), described the order as extremely disappointing.
She said the owners of the cinema hall were asked to pay a punitive damage of Rs. 2.5 crore. But the court reduced the amount to Rs. 25 lakh.
The horrifying incident is said to have occurred on June 13, 1997 during the screening of the Hindi film Border which claimed the lost of lives of 59 people and around 100 people were injured in the subsequent stampede.
The fire was sparked by a blast in a transformer in an underground parking lot in the five-storey building which housed the cinema hall and several offices.
News reported by AR for Newsvision online newspaper
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