Satya Niketan building collapse is a result of callous and criminal conduct: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday remarked that the Satya Niketan paying guest (PG) building collapse, which led to the death of seven people, was a result of callous and criminal conduct.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia pointed to an article in The Indian Express about four students who lost their lives in the collapse.

“It’s not an ordinary incident of any mishap. These four students had come to the capital city with lots of hopes and dreams. They came from small towns. All of that has been shattered by such a callous and criminal conduct on the part of...Who doesn’t know the problem of hostel in the city? Students are flocking to Delhi for higher education and this is not a new phenomenon. It has been happening for 20-25 years in the hope that they will build their career. See what has happened,” the Court remarked.

The High Court made the remark while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Aakarshak Danveer Rathi regarding the incident.

The Court said that it will hear the matter on September 25, when other matters related to the case are listed for consideration.

The Satya Niketan building near Delhi University‘s South Campus collapsed on September 6. It was being used as a PG accommodation for boys before it caved in during repair work. Students and workers are among those dead.

The Court is already considering a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking ₹1 crore compensation for the kin of the victims of the collapse besides a structural audit of all PG accommodations/hostels.

It is also seized of another PIL seeking directions to ensure that each and every college affiliated to DU has hostel facilities for students.