MCD Civic Centre, New Delhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Delhi’s civic body began pulling down an unsafe structure adjoining the Satya Niketan building collapse site on Tuesday, days after the collapse killed seven people.
The MCD order targeting the adjoining property, P-13 Satya Niketan, was issued on September 6 under Section 348 read with Section 491 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.
The owner of the collapsed building has been arrested, five MCD officials suspended, and a contractor held over the incident.
The National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Delhi government and the University Grants Commission on September 8.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea on September 10 seeking a nationwide investigation into unsafe buildings, with the Amicus Curiae seeking a time-bound safety audit of student housing near Delhi colleges.
Senior Advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, appointed Amicus Curiae in the case, has sought court directions for a time-bound inspection and safety audit of PG accommodations and private hostels near colleges and universities across Delhi.
The National Human Rights Commission issued notices to both the Delhi government and the University Grants Commission on September 8 over the incident.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had earlier ordered a case against the collapsed building’s owner and a magisterial inquiry into the circumstances of the collapse.
Satya Niketan is a densely packed neighbourhood near Delhi University’s South Campus, home to a large number of paying-guest accommodations and student hostels.
The Supreme Court’s scheduled hearing is expected to consider whether a nationwide investigation into unsafe buildings, particularly those used as student housing, is warranted.
Structural safety violations in PG and hostel buildings have been a recurring concern in Delhi, with authorities periodically ordering inspections after individual incidents rather than systematic citywide audits.
The five suspended MCD officials are expected to face a separate departmental inquiry into how the adjoining unsafe structure went unflagged prior to the collapse.
MCD Civic Centre, New Delhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
