In IGI escalator death, Rs 38L compensation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld an order of the national consumer commission awarding Rs 38.04 lakh compensation to the mother of a seven-year-old girl who died after she was sucked into an escalator at Delhi's international airport in December 1999.
The order marked a stinging rebuke to the Airports Authority of India which, despite strong evidence pointing to its callousness in not maintaining the escalator, had sought to dispute the compensation granted to Geeta Jethani. Geeta saw her daughter Jyotsna getting sucked into the escalator on December13 just after they had touched down from Dubai.
By its order in August 2004, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed the AAI to pay 250,000 French francs as compensation to Geeta.
The commission had directed payment of the sum (at present conversion rate amounting to Rs 19.4 lakh) along with 10% interest per annum from January 1, 2000. The amount, with interest compounded over the years, works out to Rs 38.04 lakh.
01/02/08 Dhananjay Mahapatra/Times of India

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Categories: airports Feb 2008, Safety Feb 2008