The Delhi High Court severely criticized the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Thursday over the tragic deaths of a mother and her son, who drowned last month after falling into an open, waterlogged drain in East Delhi’s Ghazipur area. The court, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, chastised the DDA for poor supervision and oversight of the construction work conducted by the contractor responsible for the site.
During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Jhunnu Lal Srivastava, a resident of Mayur Vihar Phase 3, the court expressed dismay at the DDA’s failure to ensure proper monitoring of the project, which left parts of the drain dangerously exposed. “DDA officers are not supervising it properly. Your officers are issuing completion certificates without going to the sites,” the bench stated, highlighting a severe lapse in safety protocols.
The victims, 22-year-old Tanuja and her three-year-old son Priyansh, met their untimely deaths on the evening of July 31, during heavy rainfall that exacerbated the hazardous conditions created by the uncovered drain. The court has demanded that the DDA’s counsel seek instructions on compensating the victims’ family before the next hearing scheduled for September 5.
Police investigations revealed that the contractor had been arrested, and notices were issued to both DDA and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, with relevant records seized. The police are expected to complete their investigation within a month, and are preparing to finalize the chargesheet seeking sanctions to proceed against the negligent officials.
The court also noted the DDA’s apparent denial of responsibility and cautioned against any potential cover-up, praising the police for their independence. “Thankfully, police were outside your (jurisdiction). Otherwise you would have been protecting them (the officials) there,” the bench remarked.
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Additionally, the PIL calls for a comprehensive audit of all ongoing drain-construction projects in Delhi to ensure they meet safety standards, including proper barricades, warning signs, and adequate lighting to prevent similar tragedies. The plea also demands that an FIR be lodged and a thorough investigation be initiated into the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.
