Supreme Court declines to transfer Satya Niketan building collapse case from Delhi High Court

The Supreme Court has decided not to interfere with the proceedings of the Delhi High Court regarding the Satya Niketan building collapse. The court requested that the High Court continue monitoring the case at shorter intervals, with the next hearing scheduled for September 25. The decision follows a previous consideration by the Supreme Court to transfer the proceedings because the issues were overlapping with a pan India case on unauthorised construction.

As part of the proceedings, the Supreme Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to submit a report by September 15 regarding actions taken against unauthorised construction and the misuse of residential properties at specific locations in the capital. This includes a September 7 High Court order for the MCD to inspect PG hostels similar to the one at Satya Niketan to ensure compliance with building bye laws and statutory permissions.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, argued that the Satya Niketan matter was a local issue and should remain with the High Court. Additionally, amicus curiae Ajit Kumar Sinha informed the bench that the MCD crackdown had been effective following the High Court order, noting that several properties with construction beyond the fourth floor had been demolished.