The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Union Government, Delhi Government and Delhi University on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking adequate, safe and affordable hostel facilities for students studying in colleges run by or affiliated with the University of Delhi.

The PIL has been filed in the wake of the recent Satya Niketan building collapse near Delhi University's South Campus, in which a five-storeyed building being used as paying guest accommodation collapsed, killing several college students and leaving others injured.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia sought responses from the concerned authorities on the plea filed by Vinod Jakhar. Advocate Vimal Tyagi appeared for the petitioner.

During the hearing, the Bench questioned the inclusion of the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a respondent and directed the petitioner to delete it from the array of parties.

Emphasising that a public interest litigation is a “very serious business”, the Court directed the petitioner's counsel to file an amended memo of parties within one week.

The matter will next be heard on September 25, when another PIL concerning the Satya Niketan building collapse is also scheduled to come up before the High Court.

The fresh PIL seeks directions to the authorities to conduct a comprehensive, college-wise assessment of the existing hostel capacity and residential requirements of students enrolled in Delhi University.

It also seeks the formulation and implementation of a time-bound Hostel Development Policy or Master Plan aimed at establishing and expanding adequate, safe and affordable institutional hostel facilities for DU students.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Vimal Tyagi submitted that the shortage of hostel accommodation has forced a large number of students, particularly those coming to Delhi from other parts of the country, to rely on privately operated paying guest accommodations, hostels, rented rooms and shared flats.

The petitioner argued that the Satya Niketan tragedy has highlighted the risks faced by students who are compelled to live in private accommodations because of the inadequate availability of institutional hostels.

The PIL has proposed that colleges with sufficient available land should construct or expand hostel facilities on their premises.

For colleges facing genuine land constraints, it has suggested the development of common or cluster hostels on suitable government or university land to accommodate students from neighbouring colleges.

The plea has also sought structural and fire safety audits of privately operated PG accommodations and student hostels located in areas surrounding Delhi University colleges.

It has urged the authorities to undertake these safety measures until adequate institutional hostel infrastructure is developed, with the objective of ensuring safer living conditions for students studying at Delhi University.