MCD Civic Centre, New Delhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
MCD demolishes unsafe structure days after Satya Niketan collapse
The MCD began demolishing an unsafe structure adjoining Delhi’s Satya Niketan building collapse site on September 9, as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a plea on nationwide building safety.
The MCD demolished an unsafe structure adjoining the Satya Niketan building collapse site on Tuesday, days after the September 6 incident that killed seven people.
The demolished property, P-13 Satya Niketan, had been ordered demolished on September 6 under Section 348 read with Section 491 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.
The owner of the collapsed building has been arrested, five MCD officials suspended, and a contractor also held over the incident.
On September 8, the National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Delhi government and the University Grants Commission.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea on September 10 on a nationwide investigation into unsafe buildings, with the Amicus Curiae seeking safety audits of student housing near colleges across Delhi.
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.
The five suspended MCD officials are expected to face a separate departmental inquiry into how the adjoining unsafe structure went unflagged prior to the collapse.
The Satya Niketan building collapse on September 6 killed seven people, with rescue operations by NDRF and Delhi Fire Services continuing through the following days.
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.
MCD Civic Centre, New Delhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0