'Mercifully, You Didn't Fine Water Like Driver': Delhi HC Slams Police Over Coaching Centre Deaths; Transfers Probe To CBI

Delhi High Court on Friday pulled up the civic body over the deaths of three IAS aspirants by drowning in the basement of a coaching center in the Old Rajender Nagar area. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela reprimanded the Delhi Police over the arrest of the SUV driver who drove past the coaching center right before the basement was flooded with water.

“Mercifully, you haven’t challaned the water just like you caught that driver,” the court said. “Water is not going to spare anyone, it doesn’t know anyone’s address. There is criminal neglect. If this is the case, let’s be ready for such tragedies every monsoon,” the court added.

Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court, had, on Thursday granted bail to Manoj Kathuria, the SUV driver in the unfortunate death of three IAS aspirants in the Old Rajender Nagar area. Kathuria’s counsel had argued before the court that he was not associated with the said offence in any manner whatsoever.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION THAT CIVIC AUTHORITIES ARE INEFFICIENT: Delhi HC

“This court would not be wrong in concluding that civic agencies in Delhi have no funds to carry out major infra developments like drains etc. Physical infra in Delhi like drains was laid nearly 50 years ago. Physical infra to say the least has not been adequate,” the high court observed.

“There’s a public perception that civic authorities are inefficient,” the court stated.

The High Court further observed that recent tragedies have demonstrated that court directions are not being followed thoroughly by civic agencies.

The court also criticized the administrative situation in Delhi, highlighting that multiple authorities merely shifted responsibility and blamed one another instead of addressing the issues effectively.

Financial Health of Civic Authorities Are Unhealthy: Delhi HC

“Physical infrastructure in Delhi was laid nearly 75 years ago. The infrastructure is not only inadequate but poorly maintained as well, ” the court noted.

Delhi HC Transfers Case To CBI

The investigation into the unfortunate deaths of three IAS aspirants by drowning in the basement of a coaching center in Old Rajender Nagar has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“Since the CVC exercises supervisory power over CBI, CVC is directed to nominate a senior officer to oversee the CBI probe and ensure that the investigation is complete in a time-bound manner,” the court said.

Delhi HC Slams AAP Govt’s ‘Freebie Culture’

“If you’re going on a freebie culture. You won’t know how to change the structure,” the court said, adding that it was “no wonder that Delhi is going from one crisis to another”.

“One day there is the problem of draught, another day it is flooding. If the water in monsoon season had been properly stored, there would have been no draught next year. It is time that Delhi’s administrative, physical, and financial infrastructure is relooked at,” the court stated.

The Court also directed the formation of a committee to carry out a “re-look” at the physical, administrative and financial infrastructure of Delhi. The committee will be headed by the Chief Secretary of Delhi and also comprising DDA VC, MCD Commissioner and Delhi Police Commissioner.