New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday decided against taking over the Satya Niketan building collapse case from the Delhi High Court, saying the matter had begun to progress there and that it did not want to disrupt the process.
A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan said the high court should continue monitoring compliance with its directions at short intervals. The matter will next be heard on September 15.
The five-storey building, which housed a boys' paying guest accommodation near Delhi University's South Campus, collapsed on Sunday. Seven people were killed and 12 injured. The building owner, his wife and son have been arrested, while five Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials have been suspended.
Senior advocate Ajit Sinha, appointed amicus curiae, told the bench that civic authorities had started taking action against unauthorised construction and PG accommodations. He said structures exceeding four storeys were being demolished in some areas and warned, "In my view, if the case is transferred, everything will stop."
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government and MCD, also opposed transferring the proceedings, saying authorities were taking more focused action.
The bench accepted their submissions but directed authorities to comply with its earlier orders on unauthorised construction, illegal land-use changes and building violations. It also sought affidavits detailing action taken on violations of building bye-laws and land-use rules.
Sinha raised concerns about other establishments, including gyms, coaching centres and BPOs. He said inspections in Saidulajab had found a small coaching centre employing about 500 people. Justice Amanullah observed that some coaching centres accommodate hundreds of students in a single room without adequate ingress or egress.
The court recalled its March 25 direction requiring civic bodies in state and Union territory capitals to identify residential areas being used for non-residential purposes. On August 5, it noted that physical surveys in specified NDMC and MCD areas remained incomplete and ordered the bodies to provide competent draftsmen.
The Supreme Court had on September 8 said it could transfer the case if necessary. It is already examining unauthorised construction, fire safety and commercial use of residential properties across India.
The Satya Niketan collapse also follows a 2022 incident in the same area that killed two people and injured four.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.