The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (September 9) issued notice to the Centre, Delhi Government and Delhi University (DU) on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking adequate hostel facilities for students in all DU colleges. The petition was filed after the recent collapse of a five-storeyed paying guest accommodation in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, in which seven people reportedly died.
Background
The PIL was filed by Vinod Jhakar, represented by advocate Vimal Tyagi. It seeks a comprehensive assessment of hostel capacity and students’ residential requirements across DU colleges.
The petitioner has also sought a time-bound Hostel Development Policy or Master Plan to create safe, affordable and adequate institutional accommodation. Where colleges have sufficient land, the plea seeks construction or expansion of hostels. For colleges facing genuine land constraints, it proposes common or cluster hostels on suitable government or university land.
The plea was moved against the backdrop of the Satya Niketan building collapse, where a boys’ PG accommodation near DU’s South Campus reportedly collapsed while repair work was underway in the basement.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia questioned the inclusion of the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a respondent and directed that its name be removed.
The Court also directed the petitioner’s counsel to file an amended memo of parties within a week, observing:
“PIL is a very serious business.”
The Court has listed the matter for September 25, when another PIL concerning the Satya Niketan incident and regulation of PG and hostel facilities is also scheduled to be considered.
The Delhi High Court issued notice to the Union Government, Delhi Government and Delhi University on the PIL and directed the petitioner to amend the memo of parties by removing the UGC.
The matter will next be heard on September 25.
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