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The court observed ‘There are shortcomings in financial infrastructure. MCD does not have funds and therefore how will it take any action? Administrative infrastructure needs to be re-examined. So many authorities are working and playing the blame game so that blame never gets stuck’.
The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, reprimanded the government over its inability to take any action regarding the poor infrastructure of the Capital. The court made such remarks in a plea seeking an investigation into the deaths of three civil aspirants who drowned in the library of Rau IAS coaching institute after it was waterlogged.
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela opined, ‘Multiple institutions are working together in Delhi, which is a beautiful strategy because no one agency is ever responsible. You Just shift blame onto one another and no one takes accountability’.
Three IAS aspirants, Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Navin Dalwin, died in a flooded basement at Rau's IAS Study Circle. The incident caused student protests, blaming the MCD for negligence. In response, officials sealed 13 illegal coaching centers in Old Rajinder Nagar.
The petitioners argued that such incidents are common in Delhi, citing similar cases over the past three years and highlighting the lack of adherence to standard norms. They referenced previous court judgments wherein the government was directed to oversee the proper implementation of infrastructure norms and thorough inquiries.
The petitioner also claimed that one aspirant of Rau IAS had sent a complaint letter to the MCD, warning about the potential dangers of an unauthorized basement in Old Rajender Nagar and alleging corruption within the MCD.
The petition sought the establishment of a high-level committee to investigate the incident, accountability for the inaction despite prior warnings to the MCD, and the formation of a district-level committee. They cited a 2014 order mandating the MCD to investigate coaching institutes and old buildings for safety compliance, which had not been acted upon.
However, the government contended that building safety audits were the responsibility of the building committee.
The court expressed dismay and identified multiple issues, including unauthorized infrastructure operations and financial constraints preventing the civic bodies from improving infrastructure. The court questioned the actions taken by MCD officials, emphasizing the need for senior officers to conduct audits. The court remarked, ‘Senior officers need to walk out of their air-conditioned office and audit whether juniors are working or not’.
The court further opined, ‘There is a disconnect between what people need and what they are being provided’. The court reprimanded the government for its inaction, calling for accountability among MCD officials and highlighting the criminal neglect of maintenance responsibilities.
The court noted the inaction despite previous orders and the loss of lives, warning that unless decisive action is taken, the cycle of crises will continue.
Therefore, the court directed the Delhi Police to file an affidavit detailing the investigation's progress and summoned the MCD commissioner, listing the matter for further hearing on the afternoon of August 2, 2024.
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