The Delhi High Court (HC) on Monday expressed serious concern over the safety of students living in paying guest (PG) accommodations and hostels, a day after the catastrophic building collapse in the national capital’s Satya Niketan area.

Terming the incident ‘most unfortunate,’ the court noted that ensuring the safety of the students could not be treated solely as the responsibility of the building owners. It added that authorities, including those from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi University (DU), also have a role to play in preventing such tragedies.

The court ruled that had the authorities been conscious of their statutory responsibilities, such incidents could have been averted.

HC flags safety concerns in hostels, PGs

During the hearing, the HC questioned the safety standards being followed in PG accommodations and hostels, particularly the ones housing students from outside Delhi. It said that DU does not have enough hostel facilities to accommodate all the students enrolled into the institute. Consequently, many students arriving from other parts of the country are forced to rely on private PGs and rented accommodations.

The court underlined the need for a proper regulatory mechanism governing PG accommodations. It also remarked that some property owners recklessly undertake illegal constructions, putting occupants at a direct risk during such incidents.

Furthermore, the court pointed to a common pattern of unauthorised expansion, saying the buildings permitted to have only two floors are sometimes extended to a total of six floors, despite retaining the same foundation.

Thereafter, it directed the MCD to carry out an audit of PGs and hostels within a week, and sought an explanation from the civic body on whether a regulatory framework currently exists for PG accommodations.

Accountability sought from authorities

The HC sought details regarding valid permissions granted for such buildings and directed the authorities to identify the department or agency responsible for any lapses.

Meanwhile, the Delhi University has also been instructed to furnish details of students coming from outside Delhi, along with the information about the hostel facilities available to them.

Towards the end, the HC took note of assurances provided from the MCD and the Delhi Police that every possible measure was being undertaken as part of the rescue operation. It called for rescue efforts to be ramped up, underscoring that every possible attempt must be made to save human lives.

Seven killed as building crashes

The Satya Niketan building, which housed a PG accommodation for students, collapsed on Sunday noon. Seven people died in the incident, while several others were transported to the hospital after being rescued.

In the aftermath of the incident, questions have been looming over the safety of student accommodations in the capital and whether construction norms and building permissions were violated.