Supreme Court flags overcrowding, inadequate safety in PGs in Delhi | LIVE

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) said it would consider on September 10 issues related to the Satya Niketan building collapse after a direction was sought for a time-bound inspection and safety audit of PG accommodations and other such establishments situated in and around colleges and universities across Delhi.

Also Read | Out of Satya Niketan, into same trap: students struggle for safer stay in Delhi The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (September 9) issued notice to the Centre, the Delhi government and the Delhi University (DU) on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a comprehensive policy to provide safe, affordable and adequate hostel facilities for the university students across the Capital.

Follow The Hindu’s Complete coverage on Delhi building collapse The Delhi police also arrested Sudhanshu Lovneesh, a 31-year-old operator of the paying guest (PG) facility and formally arrested labour contractor Sanoj Kumar, who had been apprehended in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj a day earlier.

Both were remanded to two days’ police custody. Taking note of the submissions made by the amicus curiae, SC declines to transfer the proceedings pending before the Delhi High Court. “Having regard to the aforesaid, we accept the suggestions of the learned amicus curiae and do not disturb the position of the case before the Delhi High Court.

The High Court is requested to monitor the case at short intervals,” the Bench says. The Bench posts the matter for further hearing on September 15 to review compliance affidavits filed by the concerned civic authorities in Delhi and Lucknow pursuant to its earlier directions.

Acknowledging that substantial progress has been made pursuant to the High Court’s directions, the Bench says it is not inclined to transfer the proceedings to itself. “We will leave it there since substantial progress has been made,” the Bench says, noting that the authorities have responded positively to the High Court’s directions.

“Let it be there for the time being so that it remains more focused,” the Bench adds. Senior Advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha says that, pursuant to the Delhi High Court’s directions, demolition of unauthorised structures in Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar has begun.

He suggests that the proceedings before the High Court need not be transferred to the Supreme Court, which can instead monitor the matter. The High Court is separately hearing a petition seeking a comprehensive probe into the Satya Niketan incident.

On September 7, it ordered an inquiry into the tragedy and directed safety inspections of PG facilities falling within the MCD’s jurisdiction. The Bench flags overcrowding and inadequate safety arrangements at paying guest (PG) facilities in Delhi.

“They pack 100 students in one room… there is no adequate ingress or egress,” the Bench says. Senior advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, the court-appointed amicus curiae, tells the Bench that instances of residential premises being put to unauthorised commercial use are on the rise.

He points out that the Delhi High Court had earlier ordered an inquiry into the Satya Niketan building collapse and directed safety inspections of paying guest facilities falling within the MCD’s jurisdiction. He says he has to acknowledge that pursuant to the High Court’s directions “things are moving” and some remedial action has begun on the ground.

The Supreme Court tells SG Mehta not to treat the matter as adversarial.