'Mercifully You Have Not Challaned Rainwater': Delhi High Court Raps MCD; Transfers Case To CBI

The Delhi High Court questioned why MCD officials failed to inform the commissioner about the non-functioning storm water drains in Rajinder Nagar, which likely contributed to the tragic deaths.

In a scathing critique, the Delhi High Court expressed its inability to comprehend how three UPSC aspirants drowned in the Rajinder Nagar area, noting that such incidents have become disturbingly common and that Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials appear indifferent to the situation. The High Court transfered investigation of criminal case from Delhi police to the CBI. The court also indicated that senior MCD officials may have been involved in the irregularities related to infra management.

The court questioned why MCD officials failed to inform the commissioner about the non-functioning storm water drains in Rajinder Nagar, which likely contributed to the tragic deaths. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said MCD officials are not bothered and it has become a norm.

In a related incident, the court took a sarcastic tone with the Delhi Police regarding the arrest of an SUV driver in connection with the coaching centre deaths, remarking, "Mercifully, you have not challaned rainwater for entering the basement."

The High Court emphasized that police are respected when they book actual culprits, not when they arrest innocent individuals, underscoring its disapproval of the action taken against the SUV driver in this case.

Meanwhile, the Civil services aspirants protesting the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre deaths continued their agitation for the sixth day on Friday, with many seen studying at the protest site. Three students, identified as Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni and Nevin Dalvin, died after rain water gushed inside the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar on July 27 evening.

Officials have stated that the deaths of three civil services aspirants at the coaching centre were caused by the lack of a proper drainage system, inadequate safety measures, and the use of the basement for commercial activities in violation of regulations.