Delhi HC directs constitution of committee for demolition of dangerous buildings
A view of the Delhi High Court. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
The Delhi High Court has asked the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to set up a high-powered committee in consultation with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to suggest ways to deal with unsafe and dilapidated buildings during periods when demolition work is curtailed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
In an order issued on 6 November 2026, Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that demolition activities are prohibited during pollution abatement under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), so civic authorities cannot take steps to remove such hazardous structures by 10 February and directed that a committee be constituted as soon as possible, preferably within a week.
Taking note of the menace such buildings pose to their occupants, owners, passers-by and residents of adjoining properties, the suo motu court said it could not remain a “mute spectator” after incidents like the Satya Niketan building collapse.
“There is no doubt that the directions issued under GRAP cannot be ignored, but at the same time, it cannot be ignored that the continued rampant unauthorized constructions in the jurisdiction of this court have very serious implications and threaten/put human lives at imminent but avoidable risk/danger,” the court said.
Referring to the recent collapse of buildings in Delhi, including those in Satya Niketan and Chawri Bazaar, the court said the loss of life in such incidents underscored the urgency of addressing the issue.
“The Commissioner, MCD, in consultation with the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi, is directed to constitute a high-powered committee at the earliest, preferably within the next week,” the court said.
She asked the committee to explore and formulate an effective alternative mechanism, “including but not limited to sealing, repairing or controlled demolition of buildings identified as dilapidated/structurally unsafe/dangerous during the ongoing period/persistence of GRAP restrictions”.
The court passed the order while dealing with a case in which the MCD had issued a notice under Section 348 (Removal of Dangerous Buildings) of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Act for a property found to be in a dilapidated condition.
Emphasizing that the right to life imposes an obligation on the state to take reasonable and effective measures to protect human life from foreseeable dangers, the court said the MCD cannot shirk its duty in such a “precarious situation” by merely conducting inspections or issuing notices, leaving the underlying danger unaddressed until an unfortunate event occurs.
The court directed that a copy of its order be given to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the MCD commissioner. The matter was posted for further hearing on January 20.
A multi-storied building housing accommodation for fee-paying boys at Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on September 6 while repairs were underway. Seven people were killed and several others injured.
The next day, the Supreme Court ordered a high-level inquiry into the MCD incident, making it clear that the government cannot avoid responsibility for the tragedy.
Earlier this month, another building collapse in the Chawri Bazaar area of central Delhi claimed at least seven lives.
Published – November 10, 2026 10:41 AM IST