Satya Niketan building collapse case: Kiran Bedi moves Delhi HC seeking to intervene; Centre opposes

“What reply will you file? She is a conscientious citizen of the country. She has administrative experience. The matter is in larger public interest,” a Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia told the law officer

Updated - September 18, 2026 02:55 am IST - New Delhi

The Bench said that Ms. Bedi, who also served as the lieutenant governor of Puducherry, was seeking to intervene in the case only to assist the court and her “long experience” could always be utilised. | Photo Credit: ANI

Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi on Thursday (September 17, 2026) approached the Delhi High Court seeking to be made a party in a case concerning the Satya Niketan building collapse, that left seven people dead, saying she wanted to bring forth “critical public domain disclosures” and the “nexus” in the operation of PG hostels.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Centre, the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), however, opposed Ms. Bedi’s application saying she was pre-judging the matter and sought time to file objections.

“What reply will you file? She is a conscientious citizen of the country. She has administrative experience. The matter is in larger public interest,” a Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia told the law officer.

The Court said Ms. Bedi, who also served as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, was seeking to intervene in the case only to assist the court and her “long experience” could always be utilised.

The court gave the authorities three days to file their replies to Ms. Bedi’s plea and listed it for hearing along with the main matter on September 25.

The building at Satya Niketan, which housed a boys’ paying-guest accommodation near the Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on September 6 while repair work was under way. Four students were among the seven people who died in the collapse, while several others were injured.

In her application seeking to be made a party in the case, Ms. Bedi said she wanted to bring forth “critical public domain disclosures” on a “nexus between local political representatives, administrative apathy, and the rampant operation of illegal PG hostels being owned and run by the administrators, politicians and their family, associates, etc”.

The application said it was “highly improbable” that local authorities were unaware of the illegal, unsafe accommodations for students, and therefore, it ought to be seen whether the administration knowingly turned a blind eye.

Ms. Bedi said the need of the hour was to constitute a committee under a retired high court judge, comprising public spirited persons and the highest functionaries of the statutory authorities, to submit a detailed report and ensure that such incidents, which have now become a regular feature, are not repeated.

Published - September 17, 2026 05:30 pm IST

Delhi / crime, law and justice

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