Satya Niketan collapse: 543 properties demolished

New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has demolished 543 properties, sealed 178 others and issued 354 show-cause notices for unauthorised construction in the 17-day period following the collapse of a paying guest (PG) building in Satya Niketan, according to a compliance affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court.

The enforcement action occurred between September 6 and September 23, 2026, according to the affidavit filed on September 24 by MCD Executive Engineer (Building) Headquarters Ajay Kumar Jain in proceedings before the High Court. During the same period, the civic body issued 205 sealing show-cause notices and 98 demolition orders.

The affidavit complied with the High Court’s September 7 directions, which required the MCD to examine the permission and sanction status of buildings involved in the collapse, fix responsibility if violations were found and inspect PG hostels within its jurisdiction.

Collapsed Satya Niketan building had no sanctioned plan. In a significant disclosure, MCD stated that Property No. 14, Satya Niketan, which collapsed on September 6, had never received approval for a sanctioned building plan from the civic body.

According to the affidavit, the ground, first and second floors and part of the third floor had been constructed during 1970-1980, while a basement and the remaining portion of the third floor were subsequently constructed in 1997-98.

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