New Delhi, Nov 28: The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre, Delhi government, Delhi Police and others on a petition filed by Uphaar theatre owner Ansals, who challenged a Delhi High court order asking them to pay up around Rs 12 crore as compensation to the victims of fire in the cinema hall that killed 59 persons in 1997. A bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu and Justice G P Mathur also issued notices to delhi fire service and the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) and directed the petition be tagged along with the appeals filed by Delhi Police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi, both of which were also asked by the high court to pay damages.

However, the bench dismissed another appeal filed by the Ansals for release of the cinema house, which has been sealed by the prosecuting agency, to them. They were challenging a high court order directing the trial court to release the theatre to the owners after completion of defence evidence. Meanwhile, the court issued notices on an application filed by AVUT seeking vacation of the apex court's September 8 order virtually stopping the disbursement of the compensation deposited in the high court by the Ansals, Delhi Police, MCD and Delhi Vidyut Board.

The court on September 8 had admitted petitions filed by MCD and Delhi Police challenging a high court order asking them to cough up Rs 2.26 crore each as compensation to victims of Upahaar fire tragedy.

Bureau Report