ACHIEVEMENTS & OBJECTIVES OF A V U T

Association of  the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) was founded when the totally avoidable and unnecessary Uphaar Fire  tragedy struck Delhi on June 13th, 1997, raising important questions about our social values and our ability as a nation, to implement and enforce some of the most basic laws governing the safety and survival of our people. 59 people lost their lives for no fault on their part.

The last 21 years have been excruciating and agonizing for us.  However, the outcome of the cases has, in fact, impacted public safety which has resulted in Public Spaces being more fire safe than what they were two decades back.  The authorities and the owners/ occupiers of the public spaces have become more conscious and fire compliant. We at AVUT  are undertaking  all possible steps to avoid manmade disasters like “ Uphaar”.

Major Achievements of AVUT:

• AVUT’s endeavors have ensured that due attention is given to safety norms in public spaces, specially cinema halls & Multiplexes with owners and Government authorities ensuring strict compliance of fire safety rules.
• The implementation of the “Jai Prakash Narain Trauma Centre (AIIMS)” by the Union of India. This project was in fact a nonstarter since 1983 and it was only during the hearing of the Civil writ filed by AVUT that the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, had directed the Union of India to set up the trauma centre which was the main prayer in our  Writ Petition.
• The Supreme Court in the year 2015,while convicting the owners of Uphaar Cinema in the appeal filed by AVUT , had imposed a fine of Rs 60 Crore. This amount has been paid to the Delhi Government to set up another Trauma Centre.
• On a proposal by AVUT to the Union Government for bringing in a legislation to prevent man-made disaster in Public Spaces, the Law Commission of India has published a consultation paper dealing with man-made disasters. Our endeavor is to get this legislation passed on a priority basis.

Objectives

• To organize Seminars, Debates & Workshops to highlight the lack of basic safety measures in public spaces specially Educational Institutions , Multiplexes & Malls   .
• To ensure implementations of the judgement of safety laws, rendered by all Hon’ble Courts in the country.
• To highlight the need of effective enforcement of the rules and regulation violating safety laws.
• To examine legislation in the field of safety laws and to take measures to have the regulations upgraded keeping in view the needs changing with time.

“Let’s work together for a SAFE India”

                                                                                                                                       13.06.2018

PRESS RELEASE

The Association of Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) has been fighting to get justice for their loved ones who were killed on June 13th, 1997 at Uphaar Cinema, New Delhi in one of the worst manmade tragedies.

AVUT invested its faith in the Criminal Justice System and took up an arduous and agonizing fight for justice in the hope that it would get justice for those who were killed in the tragedy. But the final verdict of the Supreme Court we believe is certain to go down in the history as a travesty of justice. AVUT’s  endeavour for past 21 years has been not only to get justice for our loved ones, but also to ensure implementation of   safety laws in public spaces so that no precious human lives are  lost.

In the last two decades the nation has witnessed many fire tragedies, the most recent being Kamala Mills Fire, Mumbai. Apart from the number of casualties being different, there is one common thread that runs through each of   them is that all of them were man-made. Under our prevalent system, such offenders are booked under section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code which translates into causing death due to rash and negligent act. In this grim scenario, incidents of such catastrophic magnitude are bound to recur since there is no legal deterrence that can instill fear in the minds of possible wrongdoers

In the Uphaar Fire Tragedy Case Sushil Ansal who had merely under gone 5 months in jail, was allowed to walk free by the Apex Court because of his old age – a pitiful 2 ½  days in jail for each of the lives lost.

Years later, we have again been reminded of the insensitivity of our times. Someone accused of killing a Blackbuck is sentenced to five years in prison.”Yeh Kaisa Insaaf Hai”?

It is with utmost pain that we have come to realize that for our policy makers and decision makers, human life is of little value. The owners /occupiers are doing little to be fire compliant and the Government agencies are compromised.

We have spent the last twenty one years suffering pain, emptiness & desperation, hoping that this verdict would bring peace to the departed souls of our loved ones. We heard it said innumerable times that justice should not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. But unfortunately justice has been denied to the Uphaar victims

Neelam Krishnamoorthy

President AVUT

FIRE SAFETY IN PUBLIC SPACES 

We urge people to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves when they’re in public buildings like malls, theatres, Hospitals, and restaurants.

Most people don’t consider fire a significant risk, and complacency is one of the greatest dangers when it comes to fire safety,

No one ever thinks it will happen to them – until it does. Fires can and do happen and people need to be prepared in the event of one. Continue reading →