The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from Delhi University (DU), the Centre and the Delhi Government on a public interest litigation seeking hostel facilities in every college affiliated with the university, following the fatal building collapse in Satya Niketan.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia is hearing the plea, which seeks measures to address the shortage of safe and affordable accommodation for students in the national capital.
The petition was filed in the aftermath of the collapse of a five-storey building being used as a private paying guest (PG) accommodation in Satya Niketan, a prominent student housing locality near DU’s South Campus. The incident claimed seven lives and left several others injured, raising serious concerns over the safety of privately operated student accommodations.
The petitioner has sought directions to DU to ensure that every affiliated college has hostel facilities, particularly to accommodate students from outside Delhi who are otherwise compelled to rely on private PGs and other forms of rented accommodation.
The plea has also sought directions to the authorities to formulate a time-bound policy for developing hostel infrastructure to address the shortage of institutional accommodation for students in the capital.
The petition highlights the substantial mismatch between DU’s student population and the availability of hostel beds. With over 2.5 lakh students enrolled in the university, existing hostel facilities cater to only a small proportion, leaving thousands dependent on private accommodation.
The High Court had previously expressed concern over the shortage of hostel facilities and the safety of students living in private PGs. In proceedings relating to the Satya Niketan collapse, the Court has also examined the regulatory and safety framework governing student accommodation in Delhi.
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