‘Civic bodies moving in right direction’: Supreme Court won’t disturb HC proceedings over Delhi building collapse

The Supreme Court on Thursday decided not to transfer proceedings initiated by the Delhi High Court following a tragic building collapse in Satya Niketan, praising the civic bodies in the capital as moving in the "right direction." Instead, the court directed the High Court to monitor the case at short intervals. The five-storey building, which housed a hostel for students, collapsed on Sunday, resulting in the loss of seven lives.

Amicus curiae, Senior Advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, had asked the court to extend the inspection of illegal constructions and conduct a time-bound safety audit of PGs, private hostels, and other similar facilities for students across Delhi. The top court initially showed inclination to take over the proceedings, aiming to set pan-India guidelines.

However, on Thursday, Sinha informed the court that the inspections and demolitions ordered by the SC and HC have been carried out, and "things are moving in the right direction." The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, stated that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has taken several steps, with demolitions already beginning in Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar.