In Delhi University students’ union polls, student housing takes centre stage after hostel collapse

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election, scheduled for September 18 with results due on September 19, has turned sharply toward student accommodation issues following a tragic collapse in the Satya Niketan neighbourhood that claimed seven lives, five of them students. The incident has intensified scrutiny of the university’s reliance on private paying guest (PG) facilities amid a chronic shortage of institutional hostels.

The collapse left seven dead and highlighted that fewer than 5% of Delhi University students currently reside in university‑run hostels, far below the University Grants Commission’s 60% benchmark. Campaign promises from the AISA‑SFI alliance include enforcing the Rent Control Act within a two‑kilometre radius of every college, securing university subsidies for vetted private housing, and establishing at least two hostels per college. The RSS‑backed ABVP has pledged a dedicated “Awas” agenda featuring separate girls’ hostels at each college, a Student Housing Cell with a helpline, and comprehensive fire safety audits of PGs and hostels across the capital. The Congress‑aligned NSUI is slated to unveil its own housing‑focused manifesto on Monday.

The housing crisis has long affected Delhi University’s student body, which depends heavily on private accommodations due to limited on‑campus capacity. Stakeholders—including students, faculty, and housing regulators—are watching the election outcomes for potential policy shifts that could address safety standards, affordability, and the broader demand for regulated student housing. The election’s emphasis on these issues may also influence future university reforms such as retaining DU’s own entrance exam, revising attendance rules, and expanding support mechanisms for marginalized student groups.