Supreme Court refuses to transfer Satya Niketan case from Delhi HC

The Supreme Court has declined to transfer the proceedings related to the Satya Niketan building collapse from the Delhi High Court, stating that substantial progress has been made in the case. The court observed that the matter is better handled by the Delhi High Court, which continues to monitor the action taken by civic authorities.

The Supreme Court noted that some buildings inspected were housing more than 500 people, with many premises requiring verification for compliance with sanctioned building plans, building bylaws, land use, structural safety, and fire-safety norms. It highlighted concerns about overcrowding, with reports of 100 students packed into one room and inadequate ingress and egress.

Residential areas affected by the collapse have been described as chaotic, with children unable to play and elders unable to walk freely. The court emphasized that since this is a local issue, it should remain under the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court for better control and focused proceedings.

The Delhi court recently rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the PG operator linked to the building collapse that resulted in seven deaths. The Supreme Court expressed its intention not to disturb the ongoing case and acknowledged that things have started moving in the investigation and legal process.