Faith in judiciary shaken: Neelam Krishnamoorthy
The tragedy took place on Friday, June 13, 1997 when the film Border was playing at the theatre in Green Park area.
New Delhi: Unhappy with the top court’s decision of awarding the real estate baron, Gopal Ansal, one year jail term in connection with the Uphaar Cinema fire case, Neelam Krishnamoorthy, who lost her two teenage children in the 1997 tragedy, said the judgment has “shaken” her faith in judiciary.
Ms Krishnamoorthy, who is also the convener of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), said that it will set a “bad precedent” and “embolden” other big firms to flout safety norms for profit.
“I am very disappointed by the judgment. It has been 20 years since that tragedy and I had hoped that they had understood the pain and anguish of the people who had lost their family members.
“Is this democracy? I think the law of the land is such that only a rich few enjoy special power and there is nothing for the ordinary people. The judgment has shaken my faith in the judiciary,” she said.
Recalling the painful memories, Ms Krishnamoorthy said that her daughter Unnati (17) and son Ujjwal (13) had been very excited to see the movie, not knowing that it would be their last.
“Had they been alive, I would have probably been a grandmother by now. Unnati, a student of DPS RK Puram, had just got her results and she wanted to pursue her career as a company secretary, so she had applied to all the colleges in DU,” said Ms Krishnamoorthy.
She added that her son, a student of DPS, Mathura Road, wanted to pursue his career in marine engineering. “We were already dealing with our emotional trauma and now this judgment comes as a shocker,” she stated.
The tragedy took place on Friday, June 13, 1997 when the film Border was playing at the theatre in Green Park area. 59 people had died of asphyxia in the incident.