No urgent listing of plea over demolition of adjacent one in Satya Niketan: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the urgency to hear a petition that contested the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) decision to demolish the building adjacent to the one that collapsed in Satya Niketan last week. This decision came after the petitioner’s counsel requested the court to expedite the matter, citing the concern that the demolition was performed before the complete clearance of debris from the collapsed structure, potentially leaving students ensnared in the rubble.

However, the court declined to list the petition, asserting that MCD’s demolition decision was founded on a technical assessment or audit, which dispelled any urgency to immediately list the petition. The bench emphasized that the court did not recognize any basis for the petitioner’s claims, suggesting that the matter would be auto-listed the following day.

The incident involved a five-storey building in Satya Niketan, where seven individuals, primarily Delhi University students, lost their lives, and five others sustained injuries when the edifice collapsed on Sunday. Police reported that renovation work on the ground floor of the Hostel Daze, a PG accommodation, was underway when the structure crumbled around 1:30 pm, revealing that the building dated back approximately 40–50 years.

The owner of the property, Hariram Gupta, 81, and unidentified others have been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide, negligent construction practices, and endangering public safety. The incident prompted Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Singh to order a judicial inquiry. Following the collapse, MCD initiated a controlled demolition of the adjacent building, deeming it hazardous.