Click the Play button to listen to article

A PIL has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking an independent investigation into the collapse of a five-storeyed PG or hostel building at Satya Niketan yesterday, which reportedly resulted in multiple deaths and injuries to students.

The matter was mentioned today before a division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.

The petition, filed by law student Aniket Kumar Gupta, seeks urgent medical care and rehabilitation of affected students, compensation to victims, safe relocation of students from unsafe premises and preservation of crucial evidence relating to the collapse.

It also seeks constitution of an independent Judicial or Technical Committee to ascertain the precise cause of the collapse and fix responsibility, besides a comprehensive structural and safety audit of PGs, hostels and other student accommodation facilities in Delhi.

According to the petition, the building, identified as “Hostel Daze Boys PG”, was located in Satya Niketan, a major student accommodation hub near Delhi University's South Campus. It allegedly comprised a basement and five upper floors and was being used to accommodate students.

Kumar states that the building collapsed at around 1:30 PM on September 6, trapping over 30 students beneath the debris. The petition refers to an AIIMS statement issued on Sunday and states that, as per reports available that night, at least five persons had died while several others were rescued and shifted for medical treatment.

The petition seeks an investigation into whether the premises had valid approvals, whether the actual construction conformed to the sanctioned building plan, whether additional floors or structural alterations were undertaken, whether the building was lawfully being used as a PG/hostel and whether applicable safety requirements were complied with.

Beyond the Satya Niketan incident, the petition raises concerns regarding the structural safety of student accommodations in several parts of the national capital.

It identifies areas including Satya Niketan, Vijay Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Gandhi Vihar, Nehru Vihar, Hudson Lane, Gurmandi, Karol Bagh, Old Rajendra Nagar and Laxmi Nagar, where large numbers of students reside in PGs, hostels and other private accommodations.

Kumar thus seeks an immediate comprehensive structural safety audit of PGs, hostels and student accommodation premises in these areas, including verification of sanctioned building plans, permissible use, structural stability, unauthorised construction, additional floors, basement alterations, occupancy permissions and fire and life-safety requirements.

The PIL also seeks payment of Rs.1 crore compensation to the next of kin of deceased student victims, besides appropriate compensation for injured students. It also seeks job security for students who have suffered disability as a result of the incident.

Title: ANIKET KUMAR GUPTA v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS

Tags: