Delhi HC directs constitution of committee on demolition of dangerous buildings

A view of the Delhi High Court. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Delhi High Court has asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner to set up a high-powered committee, in consultation with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, to devise ways to deal with dangerous and dilapidated buildings during periods when demolition work is restricted under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

In an order passed on November 6, 2026 Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that since demolition activities are prohibited during the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-related anti-pollution restrictions, the civic authorities cannot take steps for the removal of such dangerous structures till February 10, and directed that the committee be constituted as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a week.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the threat posed by such buildings to their occupants, owners, passers-by and residents of adjoining properties, the Court said it could not remain a “mute spectator” in the wake of incidents such as the Satya Niketan building collapse.

“No doubt, the directions issued under GRAP cannot be disregarded; however, at the same time it cannot be ignored that the ongoing rampant unauthorised constructions within the jurisdiction of this Court have very serious repercussions and are endangering/ exposing human lives to an imminent but avoidable risk/ danger,” the court said.

Referring to the recent building collapses in Delhi, including those at Satya Niketan and Chawri Bazaar, the court said the loss of human lives in such incidents underscored the urgency of addressing the problem.

“The Commissioner, MCD in consultation with the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi, is directed to constitute a High-Powered Committee as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within the next week,” the court said.

It asked the committee to examine and formulate an effective alternative mechanism, “including but not limited to sealing, repairing or controlled demolition for buildings which have been identified as dilapidated/ structurally unsafe/ dangerous, during the on-going period/ subsistence of the GRAP restrictions”.

The court passed the order while dealing with a case in which the MCD has issued a notice under Section 348 (Removal of dangerous buildings) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act for a property found to be in a ruinous condition.

Emphasising that the right to life casts an obligation on the State to take reasonable and effective measures to protect human life from foreseeable dangers, the court said the MCD, in such a “precarious situation”, cannot shirk away from its obligation by merely conducting inspections or issuing notices while leaving the underlying danger unaddressed till an unfortunate incident occurs.

The Court directed that a copy of its order be forwarded to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the MCD commissioner. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 20.

A multi-storey building housing a boys’ paying guest accommodation at Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on September 6, while repair work was underway. Seven people were killed and several others injured.

The following day, the High Court ordered a high-level MCD inquiry into the incident, making it clear that the government could not evade responsibility for the tragedy.

Earlier this month, another building collapse in central Delhi’s Chawri Bazaar area claimed at least seven lives.

Published - November 10, 2026 10:41 am IST