Retired IPS officer and former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court seeking permission to intervene in proceedings concerning the Satya Niketan hostel building collapse that killed seven people earlier this month.
A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said Bedi was seeking to assist the court in a matter involving larger public interest and observed that her administrative experience could be utilised in the proceedings.
The Centre, Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), represented by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, opposed Bedi’s intervention application and sought time to place their objections before the court.
Questioning the need to oppose the application, the bench referred to Bedi as a conscientious citizen with administrative experience and said she was seeking intervention only to assist the court.
Sharma submitted that while he held Bedi in great esteem, her application appeared to pre-judge issues in the case at a stage when the authorities were yet to submit their status reports.
The bench asked the authorities not to treat Bedi’s application as an adversarial proceeding. It granted them three days to file their replies and directed that the intervention plea be taken up along with the main matter on September 25.
Seven Killed In Satya Niketan Collapse
The building in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on September 6 while repair work was underway. The premises housed a boys’ paying-guest accommodation.
Seven people were killed and several others sustained injuries in the incident.
High Court Had Ordered MCD Inquiry
Taking up the matter on September 7, the Delhi High Court ordered a high-level inquiry by the MCD into the collapse and said the government could not evade responsibility.
The court had expressed serious concern over inadequate housing facilities, including hostels operated by Delhi University or the government, as well as the safety and security of students.
It had also raised concerns over what it described as inadequate measures adopted by the MCD and other authorities for regulating paying-guest facilities in the city.
