New Delhi:
In an interim order on Tuesday, the Supreme Court directed disbursement of compensation to the victims of the 1997 Uphaar cinema tragedy.
The court said the payment will have to be completed within one month and Delhi high court Registry will disburse the amount.
When the case came up for the final hearing today, the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD) wanted it to be adjourned to Wednesday.
The apex court observed, "Why should the victims suffer" and directed the Ansals to deposit nine per cent interest on the dues within two months, which would amount to Rs 1.5 crore.
The Ansals told the court that they did not have money and that the Uphaar Cinema would have to be mortgaged.
The court permitted the Ansals to mortgage the cinema for paying up the interest.
The arguments in the case will continue on Wednesday.
The Uphaar Cinema fire, which occurred on June 13, 1997, claimed the lives of 49 people.
On a petition by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy, the high court had on April 24, 2003, awarded a compensation of Rs 25 crore to the relatives of victims.
Holding the Ansals, the MCD, the erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) and Delhi Police licensing authority "guilty of negligence", the high court directed the cinema owners to pay 55 per cent of the compensation. The remaining 45 per cent would be borne equally by the MCD, the DVB and licensing authorities, each contributing 15 per cent.
In June this year, the Supreme Court had granted bail to the Ansal brothers - Sushil and Gopal - who were earlier convicted and sentenced to a year''s imprisonment in connection with the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy.
The bail was sanctioned after both furnished a personal bond of Rs. 10,000 each.
The court said the payment will have to be completed within one month and Delhi high court Registry will disburse the amount.
When the case came up for the final hearing today, the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD) wanted it to be adjourned to Wednesday.
The apex court observed, "Why should the victims suffer" and directed the Ansals to deposit nine per cent interest on the dues within two months, which would amount to Rs 1.5 crore.
The Ansals told the court that they did not have money and that the Uphaar Cinema would have to be mortgaged.
The court permitted the Ansals to mortgage the cinema for paying up the interest.
The arguments in the case will continue on Wednesday.
The Uphaar Cinema fire, which occurred on June 13, 1997, claimed the lives of 49 people.
On a petition by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy, the high court had on April 24, 2003, awarded a compensation of Rs 25 crore to the relatives of victims.
Holding the Ansals, the MCD, the erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) and Delhi Police licensing authority "guilty of negligence", the high court directed the cinema owners to pay 55 per cent of the compensation. The remaining 45 per cent would be borne equally by the MCD, the DVB and licensing authorities, each contributing 15 per cent.
In June this year, the Supreme Court had granted bail to the Ansal brothers - Sushil and Gopal - who were earlier convicted and sentenced to a year''s imprisonment in connection with the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy.
The bail was sanctioned after both furnished a personal bond of Rs. 10,000 each.
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