New Delhi, June 23: The Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB), Licensing Authority of Delhi Police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi today deposited cheques totalling about Rs seven crore in the Delhi High Court as compensation for victims of the Uphaar fire tragedy, which had claimed 59 lives in 1991. While DVB's share of Rs 2,45,44,650 was paid by its successor company BSEs, the DCP licencing deposited a cheque of Rs 2,14,30,474, the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) said.
The MCD too deposited a cheque of Rs 2,26,33,000 in the high court registry, G S Matharu, secretary to MCD commissioner said.
Today was the last day of the two-month time given to MCD, DVB, Delhi Police and the cinema owners Ansals to deposit the compensation amount.
However, the Ansals, who were ordered to shell out 55 per cent of over Rs 17 crore awarded as compensation to the victims of the tragedy, are yet to deposit their share.
They have already moved the court seeking permission to sell off the cinema hall to meet their liability arising out of the verdict. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on July 22.
The high court in a landmark judgement had on April 24, awarded a compensation of over Rs 17 crore to the kin of those killed and the injured in the tragedy, which occurred on June 13, 1997 during the screening of Hindi blockbuster "border".
A bench comprising Justice S K Mahajan and Justice Mukul Mudgal had Ansal Properties and Clubotel Ltd, MCD, DVB and licencing authorities of Delhi Police negligent in maintaining public safety standards.
Bureau Report