Fresh PIL in Delhi High Court seeks directions to DU to ensure hostel facilities in every affiliated college

New Delhi [India], September 8 (ANI): A fresh public interest litigation (PIL) has been moved before the Delhi High Court seeking directions to Delhi University (DU) to ensure that every college affiliated with it has adequate hostel facilities for students.
The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing on Tuesday before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
The petitioner sought urgent consideration of the matter and interim directions concerning the availability of hostel facilities for students in DU-affiliated colleges.
However, the Bench declined to issue any interim directions at the mentioning stage and noted that a PIL concerning a similar issue had already been heard by the High Court a day earlier.
It was submitted that the prayers sought in the fresh petition were different from those in the PIL which had been taken up earlier.
The Court, however, asked that the PIL be formally filed and observed that it would be auto-listed for hearing.
“Tomorrow is Wednesday, PIL day in Delhi HC. File your petition; it will be taken up tomorrow. Unnecessarily, you waste your own time. Please, can by way of interim direction, such a direction be issued?” the Court orally remarked.
The PIL raises the issue of availability of adequate hostel accommodation for students studying in colleges affiliated with Delhi University, particularly students who come to the national capital from other parts of the country.
The issue of hostel accommodation has recently come into focus before the Delhi High Court following the Satya Niketan building collapse, which involved a building housing students.
In the matter concerning the collapse, the High Court had expressed serious concern over the safety and security of students living in private PG accommodations and hostels.
The Court had observed that inadequate hostel facilities often force outstation students to depend on private PG accommodations.
It had also sought details from Delhi University regarding the number of outstation students and the hostel facilities available to them.
The fresh PIL now seeks to address the larger issue of hostel availability by seeking directions to Delhi University to ensure hostel facilities across all its affiliated colleges. (ANI)