New Delhi: In a record compensation payout, the National Consumer Commission has awarded record Rs 5.90 crore to the family of a Delhi man Vipin Handa, who died in a lift mishap almost 11 years ago.
This payout has given a great boost to the cause of several consumers and lawyers fighting similar battles between the city's consumer forums.
The victim, Vipin was a senior Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) officer.
The accident took place on March 20, 2003 while Handa was in the lift with 12 other officers after finishing a meeting at the Research Analysis Wing (RAW) office, Lodhi Road, Delhi, when the lift stalled between the seventh and sixth floors.
Vipin managed to rescue his other mates but was crushed to death after the stalled lift that he was being helped out of started moving downwards.
In 2005, his wife Rashmi Handa and two children Shristi and Kshitij filed the complaint before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
Last week the Consumer Commission bench presided over by Justice J M Malik and member Dr S M Kantikar held all the three parties - lift makers OTIS, RAW and Military Engineering Services (MES) - guilty of deficiency, and announced a Rs 3 crore compensation, which is to be paid with an annual interest of 9 per cent, thereby taking the total payout to over Rs. 5.90 crore.
