Elevator safety: Telangana HC seeks response from state over possibility of enacting law

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to file its response within four weeks in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a comprehensive law on elevator safety.

This comes after the High Court expressed its concern over the rising number of tragic elevator-related accidents across the state.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara issued the directive on Tuesday, while hearing a PIL that originated from a letter sent to the court in March.

The letter followed the death of a four-year-old boy in a lift accident in Hyderabad and highlighted the absence of specific legislation or safety protocols governing elevators in the state.

Fatal accidents trigger legal scrutiny

The letter that triggered judicial intervention was sent shortly after a tragic incident on March 14, in which a child lost his life after getting stuck in a malfunctioning elevator at Shantinagar.

It urged the High Court to direct the government to formulate and enforce clear legal guidelines for the safe installation, maintenance, and operation of lifts in residential and commercial buildings.

Since then, several disturbing incidents have reinforced the need for urgent action:

A six-year-old boy, Arnav, died in Masab Tank in February after getting trapped between a lift and a wall.

Another tragic case was reported in March at Mehdipatnam, where a four-year-old boy died after he fell into a lift shaft after the gate malfunctioned.

In April, three women sustained injuries when a lift plummeted from the fourth floor due to a snapped cable at Murad Nagar.

In April, a 39-year-old doctor died while attempting to retrieve a ball from a faulty elevator pit at Suraram.

In May, three migrant workers from Bihar died at a construction site in Jawaharnagar when the service lift collapsed.

Government yet to respond despite the court notice

On May 2, the court issued notices to the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, and the Law Department, seeking their official response. However, no counter-affidavit has been filed to date.

Taking note of the delay, the High Court has now adjourned the matter by four weeks and reiterated the need for the government to explain both the causes of repeated elevator failures and the measures being taken to prevent future accidents.

Call for legislative reform

Currently, Telangana has no specific legislation dealing with elevator safety, unlike some other Indian states. The court's observations underline the pressing need for the government to frame rules, guidelines, and a statutory mechanism to regulate lift manufacturing, installation, periodic maintenance, and emergency response protocols.

With an increasing number of residential high-rises and commercial complexes depending on elevators, the court stressed that the absence of regulation is leading to preventable tragedies.

What's next?

The High Court has made it clear that it expects a comprehensive reply from the State Government detailing legislative intent, interim safety actions, and accountability measures. Based on the response, the court is likely to deliberate on further directions to ensure public safety and prevent similar incidents.