The Delhi High Court has agreed to review a public interest litigation (PIL) following the catastrophic collapse of a multi-storey building in the Satya Niketan area of South West Delhi. The building, which served as a Paying Guest (PG) accommodation, tragically resulted in the deaths of six individuals. The PIL, filed by Aniket Kumar Gupta, not only calls for a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of the deceased but also demands a thorough structural safety audit of all PGs and hostels in the region.
The plea was brought before a Bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia, who acknowledged the urgency of the matter. As per the reports, the FIR has been filed against the person responsible for managing the PG accommodation, raising serious questions about their accountability.
Gupta’s petition highlights preliminary findings indicating that repair or construction activities were allegedly taking place just before the building’s collapse. This raises concerns about the legality of such operations, the building’s structural integrity, adherence to sanctioned plans, and the premises’ compliance with fire safety norms and other regulatory measures.
The petitioner stresses the need for a comprehensive and independent investigation to identify the root causes of the collapse. This includes examining the involvement of the property owners, builders, contractors, architects, structural engineers, and any individuals associated with renovation works, as well as scrutinizing the actions of public authorities responsible for enforcing building regulations.
In addition to seeking compensation for the victims’ families, Gupta is advocating for a full-scale structural safety audit across all PG accommodations, hostels, and student residences in Satya Niketan, along with other major student housing areas in Delhi. The aim is to ensure that such a tragedy does not recur, by holding accountable those responsible and improving safety oversight in these densely populated living spaces.
