Exclusive | Satya Niketan building that collapsed in September did not have ‘approved plan and completion certificate’: RTI | Today’s news
The building that collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on September 6, killing seven people, did not have an approved building plan or completion certificate, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) revealed in response to an RTI application filed by Livemint.
The civic association also said it had not received any complaints regarding unauthorized construction or structural safety at the facility prior to the incident.
However, the MCD’s response does not explicitly clarify whether the property was classified as “unauthorized/illegal construction” in its records.
The collapsed Hostel Daze building in Satya Niketan was property No. 14.
Livemint filed an RTI application with the South Delhi Municipal Corporation on September 15, seeking details of the building’s approvals, safety checks, complaints, licenses and action taken by civic authorities before the collapse. The application was transferred to MCD on September 17.
After receiving no response, a first appeal was filed on October 22. The MCD subsequently disposed of the request by issuing its reply on November 3.
MCD on demolition notices for neighboring property next to Hostel Daze
The MCD said it had no inspection reports, sealing orders or demolition notices regarding the adjoining property and explained that it did not reserve the premises as no ongoing unauthorized constructions were observed and no related complaints were received.
“There is no inspection report, sealing order or demolition order as the property has not been booked due to the fact that no ongoing unauthorized construction has been noticed or any complaint has been received,” read the reply to the query “Provide attested copy of the inspection report, sealing order and demolition order issued by MCD for the building immediately adjacent/next to the collapsed structure (Niketan Hostel) at Satya Dazetan.”
However, according to ANI, the MCD has declared that it is in a “destructive/dangerous condition” and poses a potential threat to its residents and nearby residents.
In an order issued by the Executive Engineer (Building)-I, South Zone, the civic body said the premises were occupied and were found to be structurally unsafe. The demolition order was issued under Sections 348 and 491 of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi Act, 1957.
MCD says no notices or complaints on Satya Niketan properties from January 2025
The MCD said no notices were issued or sealed against private PG accommodation, student hostels or residential buildings in Satya Niketan between January 1, 2025 and September 5, 2026.
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“No such notices or orders passed from 01/01/2025 to 09/05/2026,” he said.
Regarding the complaints related to the collapsed property specifically, the MCD said that since January 1, 2025, no reports have been received regarding unauthorized construction or structural safety.
“As of 01/01/2025, the Department has not received any such complaints of unauthorized construction or building safety on the property in question,” it said.
In response to a request for inspection register and action reports (ATRs) relating to complaints by resident social associations or students about structural risks and waterlogging in the basements at Satya Niketan, the ministry referred to its response to a previous question instead of providing the requested records.
The Ministry also did not ascertain whether the collapsed building has a valid business or accommodation license to operate PG accommodation.
In response to a query regarding the commercial use permit, the MCD said that registration and conversion charges were levied by the owner for various floors during various years between 2007 and 2019. However, it did not provide a clear confirmation of a valid commercial PG license or permission to run the premises as a hostel.
101 PGs operating in Satya Niketan but no details of owners
The RTI also sought a list of PG accommodation, student hostels and guest houses operating in Satya Niketan, along with the names of their registered owners and operators.
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The MCD said there are 101 PGs operating in the area. However, he did not list the names of the properties, their owners or operators as requested.
Another question was regarding the number of PG accommodation in Satya Niketan ward, which held valid No Objection Certificates (NOC) from Delhi Fire Service (DFS) along with certified structural stability certificates as on September this year.
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Instead of providing separate numbers, the ministry referred to its reply and said that there are 101 PGs operating in the area. As a result, the number of accommodation facilities meeting both security requirements remains unanswered in the RTI response.
No names of officials responsible for monitoring security
Livemint also sought the names and designations of junior engineers (JE) and assistant engineers (AE) of MCD responsible for monitoring unauthorized construction and structural safety at Satya Niketan between August 2025 and September 2026.
No names were released by the ministry. It replied: “No official has dealt with any record of the property from the point of view of construction or use.”
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The RTI application also sought copies of any preliminary investigation report, survey report or structural safety audit conducted by the MCD under the Delhi High Court’s directions regarding the September 6 building collapse and adjoining properties at Satya Niketan.
However, the civic body did not provide any such document. Instead, it argued that no inspection was necessary before the collapse.
Delhi Police has filed charges against the six, citing culpable homicide
In the latest development, the Delhi Police has filed a chargesheet against six people in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse on September 6, citing culpable homicide not amounting to murder and several other offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), according to news agencies.
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A collapse in the Satya Niketan area of the national capital left seven dead and several others injured.
An FIR was registered at the South Campus police station following the incident. The chargesheet names six accused: building owner Hari Ram Gupta, his wife Urmila Gupta, Mahesh Gupta, Sanoj Kumar, Sudhanshu Lavnish Kumar and Shubham Tyagi.
The police appealed to Section 105 of the BNS, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Other provisions contained in the criminal file are § 125 letter a) concerning rash or negligent conduct endangering human life; § 3 paragraph 5 regarding common intention; and Section 290, which deals with negligence in the repair or construction of structures.
The indictment also contains Section 115(2) relating to voluntary bodily harm and Section 324(2) and Section 324(4) dealing with mischief and damage or loss caused to public or private property.
