According to the Supreme Court, the manufacturer, maintenance agency and building owner are jointly responsible for lift accidents. In one case, the court imposed 70% of the compensation on the company, 25% on the agency and 5% on the owner.
New Delhi: If any accident happens in the lift, who will be responsible for it? The Supreme Court has given a very big and important decision on this question. The court has made it clear that from now on, the company manufacturing the lift, its maintenance agency and the owner or management of the building will together be responsible for any accident occurring in the lift.
What is the whole matter?
This matter is of the year 2003. A tragic accident took place at the headquarters of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in New Delhi. 13 officers were traveling in the lift of the building, when the lift suddenly stopped between the sixth and seventh floors. While the rescue operation was going on, officer Vipin Handa tried to get out of the lift. At that very moment, the lift suddenly moved downwards, due to which he got badly trapped and died on the spot.
What argument did the company give?
The lift manufacturing company said in its argument that the accident occurred due to human error during the rescue operation. The company also said that it had been warned in advance about fluctuations in electrical voltage in the building.
What did the Supreme Court say?
But the Supreme Court did not accept this argument of the company. The court said that there were technical faults in the lift for a long time, but necessary steps were not taken to fix them. The court made it clear that it is the responsibility of all concerned parties to ensure the safety of those traveling in the lift. The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in this case. According to this decision, 70% of the compensation amount will have to be given to the lift company, 25% amount to the Maintenance Agency (MES) and the remaining 5% amount to RAW.