Delhi UPSC Students Death Case: Delhi High Court Pulls Up Authorities, Asks Why No MCD Official Arrested Yet

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up authorities over the deaths of three UPSC aspirants who drowned in the basement of a coaching centre, saying such tragedies are bound to happen when there is no collection of taxes due to a "freebies culture". A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan said a "strange probe" was going on with police action against the passerby who drove a car but no action against MCD officials. The court said multi-storey buildings were being allowed to operate but there was no proper drainage.

"You want to have freebies culture, don't want to collect taxes... this is bound to happen," the bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, said. Taking a swipe at authorities, the court said they need to build infrastructure but are bankrupt and can't even pay salaries. The court was hearing a plea seeking a high-level committee to investigate the deaths of three civil service aspirants in the basement of a flooded coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar on the evening of July 27.

The three who died were Shreya Yadav (25) of Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala.

"We understand all stakeholders are responsible. We are all part of the city. Even we are opening the drain, closing the drain. But the difference is, you are building the city. This is a strategy where no person is held responsible. We have to find out where the jurisdiction of one authority ends and the responsibility of another begins."

The Court also suggested that if the investigation officer does not conduct a thorough probe, the case could be transferred to a central agency.