The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said the multi-storey hostel building collapse in Satya Niketan, which resulted in the death of seven persons including students, was not an ordinary mishap.
A Bench of Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the four students who died came to the nation’s capital from small towns with hopes of building a career, but these were “shattered” due to the “callous and criminal conduct” of certain persons.
“Four students lost their lives in the mishap…very tragic. It’s not an ordinary incident of any mishap. These four students had come to the capital with a lot of hopes and dreams, coming from small towns. All of that was shattered by such callous and criminal conduct on the part of (certain persons),” the court orally remarked.
The building at Satya Niketan, which housed a boys’ paying-guest accommodation near the Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on September 6 while repair work was underway. Several people were also injured in the collapse.
Lack of hostels
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma said that several steps have been taken by the authorities after the incident, including proactive mapping and earmarking of land and other facilities for students.
The Bench, however, responded that the issue of lack of hostel facilities was not a “new phenomenon”.
“Who doesn’t know the problem of hostels in the city? Students are flocking to Delhi for higher education, and this is not a new phenomenon. It has been happening for the last 20-25 years in the hope that they will build their career. See what has happened,” the Bench remarked.
The court was hearing a petition by Aakarshak Danveer Rathi seeking an independent probe into the matter, inspection of all paying guests as well as compensation and a rehabilitation scheme for victims and their families.
The court said the petition would be heard along with another pending petition on September 25.
The court on September 7 ordered a high-level MCD inquiry into the incident and made it clear that the government cannot evade responsibility.
Published – September 17, 2026 12:44 am IST
