The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation seeking hostel facilities across all colleges affiliated with Delhi University, amid renewed concerns over the safety of private student accommodation.
The petition points to the shortage of institutional hostels and argues that students should not be compelled to rely on private paying guest facilities and hostels that may not meet safety requirements.
The plea follows the collapse of a five-storey PG building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, which killed seven people and injured several others. The incident has intensified concerns about the safety of private accommodation used by students.
DU has more than 2.5 lakh students, while its hostel capacity is estimated at around 9,000 beds. More than half of the university’s students come from outside Delhi, and only a limited number of colleges currently provide hostel facilities.
The petition seeks directions for hostel accommodation in all DU colleges, saying this could reduce dependence on privately operated housing.
Following the Satya Niketan tragedy, the Delhi government has also proposed tighter rules for PGs and hostels, including licensing, police clearance and structural and fire-safety certifications.
