Delhi High Court Examines PIL on Fatal Rajendra Nagar Incident

The Delhi High Court will hear a PIL for a high-level investigation into the Rajendra Nagar incident, where three lives were lost due to alleged negligence. The plea also calls for the establishment of district committees to investigate illegal commercial constructions and address regulatory enforcement failures.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday is set to consider a public interest litigation (PIL) calling for the formation of a high-level committee to probe the tragic Rajendra Nagar incident, which claimed three lives. The plea, presented by Advocate Rudra Vikram Singh on behalf of the NGO Kutumb and its trustee Jitender Singh, was mentioned before the bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.

The petition seeks thorough scrutiny of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officers for failing to act on a prior complaint lodged on June 26. Additionally, the plea advocates the creation of district-level committees across Delhi to examine and address illegal commercial constructions.

The plea also demands an action-taken report regarding the Mukherjee Nagar incident, highlighting the need for oversight on coaching institutes operating unlawfully or not complying with standard norms. The petition underscores systemic regulatory failures and calls for accountability in illegal construction and non-compliance within educational facilities.

Referencing numerous similar incidents, the plea points to long-standing corruption and negligence by respondents, which it claims have repeatedly endangered lives. A tragic instance in Rajender Nagar saw three civil servant aspirants perish in a flooded basement after heavy rains. Such incidents, it argues, are part of a worrying pattern of failures to implement preventive measures.

On July 28, another PIL was filed seeking immediate MCD intervention to prevent future incidents. Historical lapses, including last year's Mukherjee Nagar fire, which forced students to leap from windows for survival, underscore continued safety risks. In May, the court had mandated MCD and Delhi Development Authority to close non-compliant coaching centers with fire safety norms.

The court's prior rulings emphasize the critical necessity for student safety, mandating compliance with Delhi Master Plan 2021 regulations, or face closure. The plea accentuates the urgent need for structural reforms and adherence to safety standards in educational institutions to prevent further loss of life.

Officials reported that the deceased civil service aspirants were trapped in an inundated basement at a coaching centre in Old Rajendra Nagar, brought on by severe rainfall. The Delhi Fire Department had responded to a distress call from Rau's IAS Study Circle on the night of the incident.