New Delhi: Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Centre, Delhi govt and Delhi University to place their stand on a plea by a student leader seeking better hostel facilities across all colleges under the university.
The plea said that even after over 104 years of the university’s establishment, and despite an enormous increase in student strength and geographical expansion, residential infrastructure has not developed proportionately.
The shortage of hostel accommodation also imposes a substantial financial burden upon students and their families,” the petition said. It had said the incident was not only unfortunate but had also evoked deep concern about inadequate housing, including hostels run by Delhi University or govt, the safety and security of students, and the inadequate measures employed by MCD and other authorities to regulate such PG facilities. “The issue is not confined to North Campus, South Campus or any particular college or locality. Colleges of the University of Delhi are situated throughout the NCT of Delhi and the shortage of safe and affordable institutional accommodation is consequently a university-wide problem requiring a university-wide policy response. The PIL sought directions to authorities to undertake a college-wise assessment of existing hostel capacity and residential requirements, and formulate a phased and time-bound University of Delhi Hostel Development Policy or master plan. It added that construction of permanent hostel infrastructure would require time, so authorities should, as an interim safety measure, undertake structural and fire-safety audits of private PGs and student hostels operating around DU and formulate an appropriate registration or periodic inspection mechanism.
The court, earlier this week, ordered a high-level MCD inquiry into the Satya Niketan building collapse that left seven people dead, among them several DU college students, and made it clear that govt could not evade responsibility.