CHENNAI: A cinema theatre, which had neither elevators nor ramps, and made a person with a disability climb the staircase to watch actor Udhayanidhi‘s ‘Nenjukku Neethi’ movie, has been asked to pay ₹1 lakh as compensation to the aggrieved person.
The Thiruvallur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum passed the order based on a complaint from S Sureshkumar of Kundrathur. He complained that he went to Gokulam Cinemas in Poonamallee to watch ‘Nenjukku Neethi’ in May 2022, but realised on entering the premises that the screen was on the second floor, and yet it had no lifts or ramps.
The theatre employees told Suresh that he had to climb the staircase due to which he suffered severe leg pain the same day, said Suresh, who has locomotor disability of 60%.
He alleged that Gokulam Cinemas had violated Disability Act 2006 by not providing lifts or ramps in the newly built complex and the district collector too was at fault for having issued licence to the theatre hall without proper inspection.
In response, Gokulam Cinemas said Suresh was not on their premises on the said date to watch the movie and he was trying to mislead the court with a ticket borrowed from another person. Counsel for the theatre argued that work to install lifts could not be completed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The forum rejected the management’s argument, saying: “The contention could not be entertained as Covid-19 effects came to an end two years ago.” It directed the theatre to pay ₹1 lakh as compensation for the mental agony and hardship caused, and another ₹10,000 towards Suresh’s litigation expenses. The Thiruvallur district collector has been directed to take necessary action against the theatre within four weeks.
The Thiruvallur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum passed the order based on a complaint from S Sureshkumar of Kundrathur. He complained that he went to Gokulam Cinemas in Poonamallee to watch ‘Nenjukku Neethi’ in May 2022, but realised on entering the premises that the screen was on the second floor, and yet it had no lifts or ramps.
The theatre employees told Suresh that he had to climb the staircase due to which he suffered severe leg pain the same day, said Suresh, who has locomotor disability of 60%.
He alleged that Gokulam Cinemas had violated Disability Act 2006 by not providing lifts or ramps in the newly built complex and the district collector too was at fault for having issued licence to the theatre hall without proper inspection.
In response, Gokulam Cinemas said Suresh was not on their premises on the said date to watch the movie and he was trying to mislead the court with a ticket borrowed from another person. Counsel for the theatre argued that work to install lifts could not be completed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The forum rejected the management’s argument, saying: “The contention could not be entertained as Covid-19 effects came to an end two years ago.” It directed the theatre to pay ₹1 lakh as compensation for the mental agony and hardship caused, and another ₹10,000 towards Suresh’s litigation expenses. The Thiruvallur district collector has been directed to take necessary action against the theatre within four weeks.
