The Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation seeking a law to regulate installation and operation of lifts and escalators in the State of Punjab.
The PIL filed by Purab Premium Apartments Jan-Hit Bachao Committee has prayed that their representation dated 13.01.2021/18.02.2021 , vide which they have prayed that the authorities should regulate the installation of lifts and escalators in the State of Punjab by making an appropriate legislation, has not been considered by the authorities, in spite of the fact that they have approached them on several occasions.
The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the Power Department of the State of Punjab has already submitted a draft of the Lifts and Escalators Act to the Local Bodies and Housing Departments, but no further steps in the matter have been taken, though such statutory provisions regulating the lifts and escalators have already been formulated and are under implementation in other states since the last 50/60 years.
He further submitted that in the absence of a legislation regulating the lifts and escalators, several accidents and mis-happenings are occurring, but there is no redressal mechanism for the same.
Avinit Avasthi , Assistant Advocate General, Punjab apprised the Bench that the authorities will immediately consider the representation of the petitioners and take further steps in the matter in accordance with law.
In view of the aforesaid statement made by State counsel, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli did not find any reason to entertain the petition, which was disposed of taking the statement of State counsel on record.