(MOREPIC1) Chandigarh (Face2News)
Punjab population of 3.10 crores is vulnerable due to successive Govt. apathy in absence of any clear cut Act & Law on lifts, Escalators and moving walks over 74 years since independence while similar laws are available in India from British era since year 1939 in Bombay.
Ironically similar laws are available in adjoining states of Himachal Pradesh & Haryana since 2007 and 2008 respectively and enacted in 2009 though these states are born out of from Punjab only in 1966. Such is the callous and indifferent attitude of all successive Governments of Punjab for its citizens considering them as guinea pig despite two international Air-ports of Mohali & Amritsar, Premier & prestigious healthcare tertiary institute like PGIMER, GMCH-32, CMC/DMC Ludhiana, Govt. medical colleges like Faridkot, Amritsar, Patiala so making patients and their patients more vulnerable due to Govt. apathy. Even all Govt. buildings, judicial complexes have same challenges besides urban populations of districts Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda etc.
Moreover there is no Govt. agency or any sort of body available in India (like in USA NIOSH: THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH) which maintains any data on fatal accidents, accidents, serious injuries thru lifts and escalators etc. eventually resulting into the fatal accidents across PAN India and cross all states. Punjab is no exception to similar episodes as approx. 1.25-1.40 crores people are using lifts as each person in urban areas use lifts, escalators on an average 4-5 times a day as per global statistical data while it could be higher in India.(SUBHEAD)(MOREPIC2)
There is an estimation that over 55-60 lakhs people daily use the lifts and escalators & moving walks in various housing societies, shopping malls, Govt. offices, Hospitals & Airports etc. This puts safety of over crores of our citizens at stake – including the most vulnerable sections like Children, Women, Elderly & Infirm/sick ; in absence of any ACT to regulate the installation & safe operation of these devices
In a brief history, though the act was promulgated way back in 1939, in absence of clear cut guidelines on implementation & control in Punjab it lacks teeth in enforcing. Till time even no suo-motto was taken by H’ble court so Petitioners’ Sh. Rahul Sharma (GENERAL SECRETARY: PURAB PREMIUM APPARTMENTS JAN-HIT BACHAO COMMITTEE (Regd.) Mohali) & Sh. Gobind Ram Seth (PRESIDENT: PURAB PREMIUM APPARTMENTS JAN-HIT BACHAO COMMITTEE (Regd.) Mohali) through its counsel Mr. Nikunj Dhawan (Advocate) filed the PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) on July 08, 2022 (CWP-PIL, No. 64, 2022) which was listed on July 12, 2022 where Asst.
Additional Advocate General (Punjab) Mr. Avinit Avasthi submits that authorities will immediately consider the various representations of Petitioners pending as long as Jan.13, 2021 (to make the law on lifts & Escalators) in the court of Hon’ble Chief Justice Sh. Ravi Shanker Jha and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arun Palli.
In view of the aforesaid statement made by learned State counsel Punjab, the present PIL was disposed of taking the statement of State counsel Asst. Advocate General (Punjab) Mr. Avinit Avasthi on record.
It’s appreciable that Hon’ble court (double bench) has disposed of the petition within 02 working days for which petitioners’ are highly grateful to judiciary and expressed that it will re-impose the faith of citizens in our judiciary further.
Though its land sliding victory to ensure the safety of common public but still issue of making Govt. body to maintain data & statistics of Lifts & Escalators accidents is unattended which is state subject including state Govt. and Govt. of India both.
