New Delhi, July 30 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the manufacturer, maintenance operator and owner of premises housing an elevator are jointly and severally liable under public law to ensure the safety of passengers and compensate victims in the event of an accident, likening elevators to "common carriers" that owe users the highest duty of care. A bench of justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe upheld a 2014 order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), fastening liability on OTIS Elevator Company (India) Ltd, the Military Engineering Service (MES) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for the death of former Indian diplomat Vipin Handa in a lift accident at the RAW headquarters in New Delhi in March...