Satya Niketan building collapse: Supreme Court allows Delhi High Court to continue monitoring case

The Supreme Court on Thursday decided against taking over the Satya Niketan building collapse proceedings from the Delhi High Court, saying the matter should continue there as action is already being taken.

The apex court, however, directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to file a report by September 15 detailing the action taken against unauthorised construction and misuse of residential properties at specified locations in the Capital.

Delhi High Court to continue monitoring

The bench was considering a report submitted by senior advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae in a pan-India case concerning unauthorised construction.

It also clarified that the Delhi High Court's September 7 order would remain undisturbed. Under that order, the MCD was directed to inspect PG hostels similar to the one at Satya Niketan and check whether they have the required statutory permissions and comply with building bye-laws.

“We do not disturb the position of the case before the high court but the high court of Delhi is requested to monitor the case at shorter intervals,” the Supreme Court said.

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the matter next on September 25.

MCD crackdown cited before SC

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, told the Supreme Court that the Satya Niketan matter was a “local” issue and would be better handled by the high court.

He also assured the bench that both the MCD and Delhi government were committed to following directions issued by either court.

Sinha told the bench that the MCD's action had produced results following the high court's directions. He said several properties where construction had gone beyond the fourth floor had been demolished.

SC had considered taking over case

The Supreme Court had heard the matter briefly on September 8 and observed that the issues before it and the Delhi High Court were “overlapping”. It had initially considered transferring the proceedings to itself.

However, Sinha pointed to the progress made after the high court's intervention and also referred to the Supreme Court's March 25 directions to states and local authorities in major cities, including Delhi, to take action against unauthorised construction.

With the high court already monitoring the Satya Niketan case, the Supreme Court has now asked it to continue doing so at shorter intervals.