FIR in Delhi Airport Terminal 1 collapse case in sensitive category, not declared heinous crime

Delhi Airport Roof collapse (1)

The First Information Report (FIR) in the case relating to the collapse of the Terminal-1 roof at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 28 is in the sensitive category, sources told Moneycontrol. It has not been categorised as a heinous crime.

The FIR, which has been filed against unknown persons, has been lodged under Sections 304A and 337 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860 for causing grievous hurt  and death due to negligence. It was filed last week.

One person lost his life in the incident.

The case is currently being investigated by an Investigating Officer (IO), a sub-inspector level officer, who will seek details from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

A mechanical inspection will be held and records going back to 2010 will be evaluated to hold people responsible for the construction and expansion of the terminal.

The investigation process will entail calling the stakeholders for questioning. So far, the FIR has been kept in the sensitive category and the crime has not been categorised as heinous. A senior level official is yet to be assigned.

What is the incident?

On June 28, the roof canopy and metallic support beams at Terminal 1 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed, claiming one life, crushing several cars and leading to the suspension of operations in the terminal.

Terminal-1  the was the first terminal to be built after the GMR group-led DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd)  took over the airport from the government-owned AAI.

What do Sections 304A and 337 entail?

Section 304A of the IPC deals with punishment for causing death due to negligence. According to the Section, “Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act, not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”

Essentially, if a death is caused by an act of a person who neglected to do his duty under law or under the terms of his employment, he is punishable under Section 304A.

Section 337 deals with causing hurt by an act, endangering life or the personal safety of others. According to the Section, “Whoever causes hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently, so as to endanger human life, or the personal safety of others, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Rs 500, or with both.”

The Act punishes a person for jeopardising the life and safety of others by committing a rash and negligent act. While 304A only covers negligence, 337 covers a  rash act as well. IPC defines ‘hurt’ as as body pain, disease, or any kind of infirmity.