5 officers suspended, 543 properties demolished, 178 sealed after Satya Niketan PG collapse: MCD to Delhi High Court

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) told the Delhi High Court on Friday that after the recent collapse of a paying guest (PG) building in Satya Niketan, it has demolished 543 properties, sealed 178 and slapped 354 show-cause notices for unauthorised construction.

In an affidavit filed before the Court, the MCD stated that action was also taken against its officials as well. The Court was informed that five officers in the supervisory chain have been placed under suspension.

"The senior-most officers connected with the concerned zonal and building administration were also placed under suspension, including the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned Zone and the Superintending Engineer / South Zone, being the senior-most officer in the building hierarchy at the relevant level, along with the Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer concerned," the MCD stated.

The MCD also stated that there are 2,453 PGs operating in the national capital with 32,247 rooms, housing 50,529 people. However, only 512 of these buildings are operating as per the master plan, it was stated.

The affidavit was filed in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition over the death of seven people in the collapse of a PG building in Satya Niketan on September 6.

The PIL petition filed by one Aniket Kumar Gupta has sought ₹1 crore compensation for the kin of the victims of the collapse, besides a structural audit of all PG accommodations/ hostels.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia heard the matter today and questioned the legality of these PGs as they, according to the MCD, do not follow the master plan. 

Justice Karia pointed to the survey report furnished by the MCD detailing the status of PGs in the Outer North (Narela Zone). The Court noted that there were 82 PGs in the area, but none of them followed the master plan. 

The Court also questioned the Delhi government about the status of a statutory mechanism to regulate PGs. 

Standing Counsel Sameer Vashisht told the Bench that the High-Powered Committee (HPC) of the government will be meeting soon to consider the issue.  

Meanwhile, the Delhi University (DU) filed an affidavit stating that at present, it has hostel facility for nearly 5,600 students. However, the Court was informed by the petitioner that nearly 1.3 lakh students study at the University. 

The Court termed the DU’s affidavit “absolutely vague” and directed it to file a fresh reply. 

It also ordered the petitioners to file their replies to the affidavits filed by the government authorities and said that the case will be heard on October 14. 

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