Satya Niketan Building Collapse: Student Groups Demand MCD Commissioner's Resignation

NEW DELHI: The Satya Niketan building collapse has put MCD commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar under renewed scrutiny, with student organisations demanding his resignation over alleged civic lapses in the tragedy.

Khirwar, a 1994-batch IAS officer, has been heading the Municipal Corporation of Delhi since January this year. His tenure has now come under the spotlight after a five-storey building being used as a student paying guest accommodation collapsed in Satya Niketan, killing seven people and injuring several others.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has demanded Khirwar's resignation, alleging that the civic administration failed to ensure the safety of students living in the area. The organisation had also protested outside the MCD office following the collapse. National Social Media Convenor of ABVP Prerna Bhardwaj said the organisation was demanding accountability and questioned the standards of student safety in the capital.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) also staged a protest over the incident. NSUI president Vinod Jakhar alleged that the rescue operation exposed failures in disaster preparedness, equipment and management.

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta has meanwhile ordered the suspension of several MCD officials in connection with the collapse. Those suspended include the deputy commissioner, superintendent engineer, executive engineer, assistant engineer and junior engineer. The chief minister has also ordered a magisterial inquiry and said strict action would be taken against officials whose negligence or oversight contributed to the tragedy.

The building, which was more than four decades old, had been operating as a student PG. CM said water had accumulated in its basement and that the combination of waterlogging and ongoing repair work had weakened the old structure. The collapse has also triggered a wider review of old and potentially unsafe buildings being used as PG accommodations, nursing homes, schools and other establishments. CM said the government was working on a policy requiring such buildings to undergo periodic structural audits and obtain safety certification.

Khirwar's name earlier drew attention because of a controversy that led to his transfer out of Delhi in 2022. At the time, Khirwar, then Delhi's principal secretary (Revenue), was accused of allegedly using Thyagraj Stadium to walk his dog, with athletes and coaches claiming they were asked to leave the facility earlier than usual. Khirwar denied the allegations, calling them "absolutely incorrect". Following the controversy, Khirwar was transferred to Ladakh, while his wife, Rinku Dugga, was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh. He returned to Delhi earlier this year and took charge as MCD commissioner.