New Delhi: The Sept 6 building collapse in Satya Niketan that claimed seven lives, including those of students, was not an “ordinary mishap” but a result of “criminal conduct”, Delhi high court said Wednesday.A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said these students came from small towns to the capital with “a lot of hopes and dreams” of building a life, but these were “shattered” due to the “callous and criminal conduct” of certain persons.“Very tragic,” the court observed about the incident, after additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma said that authorities have now taken several steps, including proactive mapping and earmarking of land and other facilities for students in Delhi.The bench’s oral remarks came while it was hearing a fresh plea seeking that the authorities maintain an online platform to indicate availability of hostels for students in the city. The court said the PIL will be heard along with another pending petition on the matter on Sept 25.The bench, though, noted that the issue of lack of hostel facilities in the city is not a “new phenomenon”. It said, “Who doesn’t know the problem of hostels? Students are flocking to Delhi for higher education… for the last 20-25 years in the hope that they will build their career. See what has happened.”The court earlier ordered a high-level MCD inquiry into the incident and made it clear that govt could not evade responsibility. It had said not only was it unfortunate, but it also evoked deep concern about inadequate housing facilities, including hostels run by Delhi University or govt, lack of safety and security of students and not-so-adequate measures employed by MCD and other authorities to regulate such PG facilities in Delhi.
