Uppal's Asian Theatre to pay Rs. 3.81L to customer who broke her leg at cinema hall

Hyderabad: Rangareddy district consumer dispute redressal commission has asked Asian Theatre in Uppal to pay Rs. 25,000 compensation and Rs. 3.81 lakh for medical expenses incurred to a consumer who broke her leg at the cinema hall.

In November 2016, Gogireddy Vanaja, a resident of Bod Uppal, went to the theatre along with her friends and relatives to watch a movie. She was a little late and the movie had already started. The theatre was dark and the person who usually guided latecomers to their seats was missing. She stumbled on some object from the poorly-maintained chairs and fell down and injured herself. She was immediately rushed to Kakatiya Hospital, Uppal.

She had broken her leg and had to undergo surgery to insert steel rods. She could not walk for more than eight months. Vanaja said though she was injured due to the negligence of the theatre, the theatre officials did not help her when she was in distress. Her friends had summoned the ambulance to take her to the hospital.

Vanaja had to spend nearly Rs. 8 lakh for two surgeries, dressing, physiotherapy, doctor visits, consultation, and ambulances apart from her regular physiotherapy sessions. She said she suffered mental trauma, agony, and pain and held the theatre responsible for it. She said the theatre had not maintained the hall and had not employed a person to guide cinema-goers to their seats. She is still undergoing treatment and has not yet fully recovered.

She lodged a police complaint and an FIR was registered in July 2017.

The cinema hall received a legal notice but did not reply.

The commission issued a notice to Asian Theatre and its advocate filed Vakalat on behalf of the cinema hall but did not choose to file a written version in spite of several adjournments.

On perusal of the said records and hearing the contentions of the complainant and in the absence of any rebuttal by the cinema hall, the commission said the cinema hall had been deficient in rendering its services to the complainant as it is a common practice in any theatre that a person escorts the people to their seats.

"As such, we are of the considered opinion that the cinema hall is liable to compensate the complainant for the injuries caused due to its negligence and as well for the mental agony suffered by the complainant besides the physical pain. The cinema hall is also liable to pay the costs of this litigation in addition to the medical expenses incurred by the complainant," said the commission.

It asked Asian Theatres to pay Rs. 3,81,721 towards expenses incurred by the complainant for medical treatment. The theatre was further directed to pay Rs. 25,000 as compensation for causing pain and mental agony to the complainant and Rs. 10,000 towards litigation costs.