Delhi High Court Orders Legal Action Following Rajendra Nagar Tragedy

The Delhi High Court has demanded senior officials of the MCD to inspect Rajendra Nagar, following the deaths of three UPSC aspirants. The court mandates an affidavit of actions taken and criticizes systemic failures in the city's infrastructure. A PIL seeks accountability and stricter regulatory measures.

The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, directed senior officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to visit Rajendra Nagar, where three UPSC aspirants died recently, ensuring corrective measures. An affidavit detailing taken actions must be submitted by Thursday, and all relevant files produced before the court, with the MCD Director present. Delhi Police has been added as a respondent in the case.

The court, listing the Rajendra Nagar incident matter for Friday, remarked, 'All these constructions are only coming up in connivance with the system. You have to fix responsibility.' The bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasized the need for a thorough review of the city's administrative and infrastructure systems to address systemic issues and failures. 'The entire administrative infrastructure of Delhi needs to be re-examined,' it observed.

During the hearing, the Court indicated plans to issue orders to assign accountability for infrastructural failures, ensuring a formal statutory process addresses the issue. While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the Rajendra Nagar incident, the court criticized the Delhi Government, MCD, and other civic authorities for not upgrading century-old infrastructure despite liberalization of bylaws.

The court questioned how water entered the basements during the incident, emphasizing inadequate infrastructural upgrades. It criticized civic authorities, stating, 'I'm sorry to say the civic authorities are bankrupt,' highlighting a lack of effective action and responsibility. The court further scrutinized authorities for maintaining a 'freebie culture' without spending money on necessary upgrades and questioned the police's effectiveness.

The proliferation of authorities passing the buck was condemned as a 'sham,' reflecting frustration with inefficiency and lack of accountability. The court asked if the drain was de-silted on time, noting no MCD official has been held responsible so far. The inadequate planning and inconsistent management in dealing with natural challenges were criticized.

The court emphasized the need to address systemic issues and improve outdated infrastructure, questioning how to accommodate 3.3 crore people with such inadequate planning. The plea, filed by NGO Kutumb, seeks to address systemic regulatory enforcement issues and ensure accountability in illegal construction and non-compliance by educational institutions. It highlights corruption within respondent departments, contributing to the loss of many lives and repeated safety incidents in the capital.