Uphaar case: Delhi govt to seek legal opinion to decline Rs 60 crore from Ansals

Families of victims sought a law for stringent punishment for man-made disasters

Catering to the demand of families of the Uphaar fire victims, the Delhi government said that it will seek legal opinion to decline the Rs 60 crore ordered by the Supreme Court to be paid to it by the Ansals.

The Delhi Government's move comes after three members of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here today.

During the 30-minute long meeting they requested the CM to decline Rs 60 crore ordered to be paid to it by Ansals and make stringent laws for punishment in man-made disasters.

"The government will take legal opinion on their demands to decline the Rs 60 crore order to be paid to Delhi govt by Ansals. It has accepted in principle the suggestion of Uphaar fire victims families to make a law for stringent punishment for man-made disasters," a senior Delhi government official said.

According to sources, the members also demanded that the government should not build a trauma centre for Uphaar tragedy victims using Ansal brothers' money.

"Delhi government has sufficient funds to build a trauma centre from its resources and will dedicate it to victims of Uphar tragedy. The CM asked the victims for their suggestions for name of the centre."

"The CM has also assured that the victims that Delhi government will offer to provide counsels for legal assistance to families of Uphaar victims, in their cases," the sources said.

Neelam Krishnamurthy, convener of AVUT, who lost both her children in the tragedy said, "I am pursuing one law from last six or seven years, where we have been dealing with such an epidemic where people died because of man's negligence. As the SC has not given any punishment, we want such a law comes where people are given at least 10-15 years of punishment. The CM has assured us that such laws will be framed."