Uphaar Victims' assn appeals to President on delayed justice

New Delhi, Jun 13 (UNI) On the 9th anniversary of the 'Uphaar' cinema tragedy which claimed 59 lives, the 'Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy' today appealed to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to implement recommendations of the committees on 'Code of Criminal Procedure' which was being abused to delay justice to the victims.

In its appeal to the President and Prime Minister, the Association said the 'Code of Criminal Procedure' had turned obsolete and was being misused and abused by lawyers to delay justice.

Giving protection to witnesses alone will not suffice, trial should be conducted within a specific time frame so that justice to the victims was not delayed, it said adding that adjournments should not be granted on flimsy grounds.

Hoping to get justice within ''their lifetime'', the Asoociation said victims be treated with dignity and respect and justice imparted with a degree of urgency so as to ensure that more tragedies like 'Uphaar' were not repeated.

Fifty-nine people had died and 104 others were injured at 'Uphaar' theatre in Green Park area of South Delhi here after a fire swept through the hall on June 13, 1997 during the screening of the film 'Border'.

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