Delhi HC seeks safe student housing after collapse

The Delhi High Court is taking action following a tragic building collapse that killed six students and injured several others, issuing notices to the central government, Delhi government, and Delhi University (DU) regarding the urgent need for safe and affordable student accommodation. The court's intervention comes after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the wake of a September 6 collapse of multi-story buildings used as student paying guest (PG) accommodations in Satya Niketan. The PIL, filed by Vinod Jakhar, highlights the severe shortage of institutional hostel facilities for DU's approximately 1.32 lakh regular students, forcing many, particularly those from outside Delhi, to rely on privately operated PGs and hostels. The petition seeks the formulation of a comprehensive policy for safe and adequate hostel facilities across the capital and immediate safety measures, including structural and fire safety audits, for students currently in private accommodations. The court has scheduled a hearing for September 25, when another similar PIL is also listed.