MCD demolishes adjoining structure at Satya Niketan collapse site

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi began demolition of an unsafe structure adjoining the Satya Niketan building collapse site on Tuesday.

The demolished property, P-13 Satya Niketan, was found dangerous under an MCD order issued September 6 citing Section 348 read with Section 491 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.

The collapse, which occurred on September 6, killed seven people; the building’s owner has since been arrested and five MCD officials suspended, along with a contractor.

On September 8, the National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Delhi government and the University Grants Commission over the incident.

The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea on September 10 on a nationwide probe into unsafe buildings, with the Amicus Curiae seeking safety audits of hostels and PG accommodations near Delhi colleges.

The demolition order for 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.

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.

MCD Civic Centre, New Delhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0