Delhi HC calls for audit of hostels; collapse toll hits 7, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• A building collapse in the Satya Niketan area of Delhi resulted in seven fatalities.
• The Delhi High Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to inspect all paying guest (PG) hostels under its jurisdiction within a week.
• The property owners, Hariram Gupta, Urmila Gupta, and Mahesh Gupta, were arrested in connection with the incident.
• Five MCD officials were suspended following the collapse, which highlighted concerns about regulatory oversight.

Detailed Insights:

• The incident occurred in a building housing students, raising serious concerns about their safety in unregulated PG accommodations.
• The Delhi High Court also noted the acute shortage of official hostel facilities for outstation students in the capital.
• The court mandated MCD to ascertain if PG buildings had valid construction permissions and complied with building bye-laws.
• It emphasized that responsibility for such incidents could extend beyond property owners to include university authorities and MCD.
• The Delhi government is exploring a policy framework to govern buildings used for various purposes, including PG accommodations.
• The 28-hour rescue operation involved bringing 12 people to AIIMS Trauma Centre and three to Safdarjung Hospital.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Paying Guest (PG) Accommodations: Private residential facilities offering lodging and sometimes meals, often to students or working professionals.
• Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD): The civic body responsible for urban governance, infrastructure, and enforcing building regulations in Delhi.
• Building Bye-laws: A set of local laws and regulations governing the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings to ensure safety and structural integrity.
• Judicial Custody: Confinement of an accused person in a prison under the order of a court.