On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court summoned top officials, including the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), and the Investigating Officer (IO), in connection with the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants in Old Rajendra Nagar on 27 July.
During a hearing led by Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan, alongside Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, the court addressed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) calling for the formation of a high-level committee to probe the incident.
The PIL highlights a grim scenario where three young aspirants perished in a basement that succumbed to severe waterlogging following heavy rainfall.
The Bench expressed concern over the city’s infrastructure issues, critiquing the prevailing freebie culture that hampers necessary urban upgrades.
ACJ Manmohan questioned, “How can a city planned for 6-7 lakh people accommodate a population of 3.3 crore without enhancing infrastructure?”
The remarks underscored the urgency of addressing the imbalance between population growth and infrastructure development.
The PIL, filed by advocate Rudra Vikram Singh, points to systemic corruption and negligence as contributing factors to the recurring tragedies in the capital.
It asserts that more than half of Delhi’s commercial properties operate illegally, often in residential areas, with authorities allegedly turning a blind eye in exchange for bribes.
The petition highlights that administrative failures are violating the right to die with dignity, which is akin to the right to life with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also initiated an inquiry into the incident.
A committee, consisting of high-ranking officials including the Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Principal Secretary (Home) of Delhi, has been formed..
The committee is likely to deliver a detailed report within 30 days.
The tragic incident occurred when heavy rainfall led to severe waterlogging in the basement of a coaching institute in Old Rajendra Nagar.
The basement, illegally used as a library and unsuitable for such conditions, led to the deaths of three students and trapped 17 others for several hours.
This incident has exposed critical safety issues in similar establishments operating without proper authorization.
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