The safety of paying guest (PG) accommodations and private hostels located in the national capital has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court (SC), two days after the catastrophic collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, which claimed seven lives. A court-appointed amicus curiae on Tuesday sought a city-wide inspection and safety audit of student housing facilities.

A visual from the scene after the collapse

Senior advocate and amicus curiae Ajit Kumar Sinha is about to list the matter before the top court at 2 pm on Tuesday, seeking an urgent hearing. The application, settled by Sinha, was filed by Supreme Court advocate-on-Record Govind Jee.

Plea seeks this

The application has been filed in an ongoing matter before the Apex court concerning illegal constructions and demolitions. Referring to the disastrous incident, Sinha has sought directives for a time-bound inspection and safety audit of PG accommodations, private hostels and other facilities meant for student accommodations across Delhi.

The amicus contended that the Satya Niketan incident needs to be viewed in the wider context of the concentration of PGs and private hostels around colleges and universities in the national capital.

As mentioned in the application, such establishments are frequently operated from residential properties that may have undergone additions, alterations or changes in land use over time.

The proposed inspection would examine whether buildings adhere to sanctioned plans and safety regulations. Among other aspects, authorities would be directed to verify the sanctioned building plans, actual number of floors, basement construction and subsequent alterations, permissible land use, structural safety and compliance to fire-safety norms.

The exercise would also inspect entry and exit routes and identify properties that may be in a dangerous or ruinous condition.

7 die in collapse at building in Satya Niketan

Notably, seven people, including five students and two labourers, were killed in the disastrous building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, while five others sustained grievous injuries in the incident.

The structure had been erected nearly 50 years ago, and had reportedly undergone innovation work before the collapse. Police and district administration officials are examining the work carried out in the basement and on the ground floor as part of their probe.

Delhi Police on Monday also laid hands on the property owner, Hariram Gupta, his wife Urmila and their son Mahesh, in connection with the case. Moreover, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has suspended five officials, including its South Zone Deputy Commissioner, amid heightened scrutiny over possible regulatory lapses.