The Assam’s consumer court has recently ordered a cinema hall owner to pay the amount of ₹67,282 as compensation to a movie goer who got bitten up by a rat during the screening of a 2018 film.
The bench of Kamrup District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) president AFA Bora, members Archana Deka Lakhar & Tutumoni Deva Goswami relied upon the observation of the Supreme Court in the Uphaar Cinemas Fire Tragedy case and the fact that the woman has been administered a rabies shot later.
On April 25, the order pronounced that, “It is the duty of the owner of the Cinema Hall to maintain the hygiene … The oral testimony of the complainant is very clear that the cinema hall was not clean and rabbits are definitely moving around for want of food as popcorn and other food items are lying on the floor as alleged … This fact have given impression that there is no regular sweeping after each show and no proper hygience and supervision was made to ensure the safety and hygience condition of the cinema hall.”
However, On October 20 the incident took place in Galleria Cinemas, Guwahati. The complaint before the consumer meeting that was admitted 5 months later. Where the arguments got completed only on March 30 this year.
The complainant reported that during the screening of the film, she realized that her foot was bleeding as something bit her during the interval. She was kept under observation for 2 hours as it was not known what had bitten her at the time.
Therefore, it was submitted that the cinema manager was only agreed to accompany the woman to the hospital after much persuasion, but eventually didn’t show up.
Therefore, it was submitted that the strong medicines she took subsequently caused her a lot of hardship. She mentioned the compensation of ₹6 lakh including ₹3.5 lakh for mental agony, ₹2.5 lakh for pain & suffering and the rest for expenses of her medical requirements.
The cinema hall owner asserted that the complaint wasn’t maintainable, and also, she had been offered first aid on the spot.
When they went for a settlement, the woman then responded with the same statement that they only offered her free tickets for her next film at the venue.
The DCDRC noted that the allegations of being bitten weren’t refuted.
Therefore, the hall was guilty of negligence in the duty to provide proper service under the Cinematograph Act.
It directed that a compensation of ₹67,000 been paid within 45 days, failing to face an interest of 12 % per annum till the payment of the amount.
