Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 8: A day after seven people were killed in the collapse of a multi-storey paying guest (PG) accommodation at Satya Niketan here, the Delhi High Court on Monday ordered an audit of PG accommodations and hostels across the city within a week and sought details from Delhi University (DU) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on the regulatory framework governing such establishments.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the incident, said responsibility for the tragedy could not rest solely with the building owners and observed that the MCD and DU also had a role to play.
The court noted that students coming to Delhi from other parts of the country are often forced to depend on private PG accommodation due to inadequate hostel facilities provided by the university.
The bench directed the MCD to conduct an audit of PG accommodations and hostels across Delhi within one week. It also directed DU to submit details of students from outside Delhi and the hostel facilities available to them.
The court further sought information from the MCD on whether a regulatory framework exists for PG accommodations, along with details of valid building permissions and any lapses on the part of the authorities.
The bench expressed concern over unauthorised construction by some PG owners and observed that buildings sanctioned for two floors were sometimes extended to six floors without strengthening their foundations.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, Delhi government, Delhi Police and MCD, told the court that all possible steps were being taken to rescue those trapped under the debris.
The court directed the authorities to file separate replies within 10 days and listed the matter for September 25.
Meanwhile, the alleged owner of the collapsed PG, 81-year-old retired Indian Air Force sergeant Hariram Gupta, was arrested in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, on Monday. His wife Urmila Gupta and their 52-year-old son Mahesh Gupta were also arrested in connection with the case.
A Delhi court sent Hariram Gupta and his wife to 14 days' judicial custody, while their son was remanded to two days' police custody.
Gupta was apprehended by Delhi Police teams deployed to trace him after a case was registered against him under charges relating to culpable homicide, negligence in maintaining the structure and endangering the safety of others. A lookout notice had also been issued against him.
Police had formed 10 teams comprising personnel from the local district police, Special Staff and other operational units to trace Gupta. Each team was headed by an Additional DCP-rank officer.
Gupta, a long-time resident of Gurugram, allegedly owns several properties and a hardware shop. Police said the collapsed property was registered in the name of his wife, Urmila Gupta, while Hariram and their son Mahesh were managing and running the premises.
Police also said Gupta had electricity connections for two floors of the building in his name. His son runs a hardware and paint shop and has two children.
Police are also searching for the PG operators and the labour contractor. Their roles in the construction and operation of the premises are being examined and further action will be taken accordingly.
The MCD meanwhile suspended five officials of its South Zone, including Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and four officials from the building department — Superintending Engineer Ranvir Singh, Executive Engineer Lalit Kumar Goel, Assistant Engineer Sunil Chauhan and Junior Engineer Ashish Kumar.
The officials were suspended with immediate effect, with disciplinary proceedings pending against four of them.
The rescue operation at the site was completed by late Monday evening after nearly 27 hours, following which the debris was removed from the site. Twelve people were rescued while seven others lost their lives in the collapse.
The incident has raised serious questions over unauthorised construction, building safety and regulatory oversight of private PG accommodations in Delhi, particularly in areas where large numbers of students live.