High Court directs Government of Karnataka to consider KHEMA’s request
Bengaluru, 9th August: Following announcement of Night and Weekend curfew at various districts across the state has again induced difficulties and challenges to the Elevator companies in providing their services to the elevator users due to prohibition in travel of men and materials especially during these periods. Realising the problem, the Karnataka Hydraulic and Elevator Manufacturer’s Association (KHEMA) approached the High Court which has directed the state government to consider its request. However, the government has delayed considering their request. With government announcing curfew again in the state, President of the Association B M Umesh Kumar has urged the government to consider their request and immediately pass an order to consider elevator service as essential and emergency service.
Continuous lockdown and curfew adversely effected in rendering immediate service for rescue operations, repairs to the non-functioning of elevators or to provide the service, regular maintenance of the Lifts Installation, Commissioning of the Elevators and lifts.
Realising this and the woes of the elevator companies and people, KHEMA knocked the doors of the high court which after hearing directed KHEMA Association to submit the representation again to the competent authority to consider the Lift and Elevator services as Essential and Emergency Service and to permit them to operate during the lockdown and curfew period.
“Following In this order the association members and office bearers submitted a petition to chief minister, chief secretary and other authorities appealing to consider and Include Elevator Industry and its Service as essential and Emergency Service Provider and permit to travel for the workers and Staff of Industries to Work Place, attend Emergency Break and Include the Lift Services in the SOP’s and allow to operate and Function to render service. With the announcement of the curfew and possible third wave of covid-19 we urge the government to consider our request and declare elevator service as essential and emergency service” said B M Umesh Kumar, president of the association.
Government in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra have already considered elevator service as essential service while Karnataka has delayed to consider it.
Vaccination and health camp on August 7 KHEMA association held a free COVID vaccination and health checkup camp for employees of Elevator manufacturing companies, service providers, component manufacturers, suppliers and distributors at the RNM hall in Industrial layout, Monotype, Banashankari 2nd stage, Bengaluru. Chief Electrical Inspectorate Theethira N Appachu, Dr T A Sharavana, former MLC, Dr C Somashekhara, Chairman, Karnataka Border Development Authority and D H Basavaraju, former chief electrical Inspectorate were the chief guests of the event.
