Uphaar Fire: Supreme Court Seeks Delhi Govt's Response Over Delays In Construction Of Trauma Centre
The Supreme Court has recently issued a notice to the Delhi government over a plea highlighting inordinate delays in the construction of a trauma centre meant to honour the victims of the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy, which claimed 59 lives.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh passed the direction while hearing a plea filed by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), which sought to implead the Delhi government in the case.
The Court also issued notices to real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), seeking their responses.
"The Government of NCT of Delhi through its Chief Secretary is ordered to be impleaded as respondent no.4. Cause title be amended accordingly," the Court ordered.
The trauma centre was mandated under a 2015 Supreme Court judgment which found the Ansal brothers guilty of criminal negligence in the Uphaar cinema fire incident.
As part of the sentence, the Apex Court had imposed a fine of Rs. 60 crore on the brothers, to be utilised for constructing a trauma centre in memory of the victims. The amount was subsequently deposited with the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government.
However, nearly a decade later, AVUT has approached the Supreme Court again, citing complete inaction by the authorities.
Appearing for AVUT, AOR Diksha Rai submitted that despite the Court’s clear mandate, no steps have been taken by the Delhi government to commence the project.
“The funds allocated for the trauma centre continue to remain unutilised, and the proposed facility remains a mere concept on paper,” the plea stated. It further criticised the authorities for their “continued inaction and lethargy”, describing it as a “blatant disregard of judicial directions and the urgent need for healthcare infrastructure.”
The AVUT emphasised that the trauma centre was not only intended as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Uphaar tragedy but also to strengthen emergency medical response infrastructure in the capital.
The Supreme Court had originally sentenced the Ansal brothers to two years of rigorous imprisonment for their role in the tragedy. However, the sentence was reduced to one year, with the condition that they deposit Rs.60 crore towards the construction of the trauma centre within three months.
Taking note of the submissions made by AVUT, the Bench has now directed the Delhi government, CBI, and the Ansal brothers to file their responses. The matter will be taken up further after the replies are received.
Case Title: Association of Victims of Uphar Tragedy v. Sushil Ansal & Ors.
Appearance:-
Petitioner: Advocates Diksha Rai (AOR), Atiga Singh, Piyush Vyas, Purvat Wal