India Supreme Court holds Otis and others jointly liable for lift safety after RAW officer death

The Supreme Court of India upheld the liability of Otis Elevator Company (India) Ltd for the 2003 lift accident at the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) headquarters in New Delhi that killed former RAW officer Vipin Handa. The bench treated elevators as “common carriers” and ruled that manufacturers, maintenance agencies and building owners are jointly and severally responsible for passenger safety. The court dismissed Otis’s appeal against a National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission order that awarded the victim’s family ₹3.01 crore with interest, retaining the compensation and clarifying that claimants need not first apportion blame among liable parties. Earlier liability was apportioned at 70 % to Otis, 25 % to the Military Engineering Service and 5 % to RAW. The decision establishes a higher safety duty for lift operators across India.