India News

Delhi hostel collapse: Rent agreement raised questions over student safety and hostel liability

The Satya Niketan hostel collapse has brought its rent agreement, building status and student safety conditions under scrutiny.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 7, 2026

APNLive Desk

The rent agreement of Delhi’s now-collapsed Hostel Daze has come under scrutiny after the five-storey building in Satya Niketan collapsed, killing seven residents.

According to the agreement, students were required to pay three months’ security along with one month’s advance rent. It also stated that the security deposit would not be refunded before the completion of the agreement period and that any damage to furniture or fixtures could be deducted from the deposit.

One clause in the agreement stated that the PG authorities were not responsible for casualties or risks to a student.

A separate terms-and-conditions document linked to the hostel also stated that the management would not be liable for compensation in cases involving personal injury, loss or damage to a tenant’s belongings caused by circumstances described as beyond the PG’s control, including sealing, fire, earthquakes and heavy rains.

Strict conditions for students

The agreement also laid down several conditions for tenants. Students were prohibited from putting posters or stickers on hostel walls.

It further stated that students leaving before the agreed period, including those removed for disciplinary reasons, would not receive a refund of hostel fees or security money.

The hostel management was also given the right to shift students to another room or hostel location when circumstances required it. The terms allowed immediate eviction for disciplinary issues without a refund.

Building was unauthorised, report says

The collapsed structure was a five-storey building in Satya Niketan that housed a boys’ hostel. According to a senior MCD official cited in the report, the nearly 50-year-old building stood on around 55 square yards of land in a resettlement colony where permission had been granted only for a two-storey structure.

No building plan had reportedly been approved for the structure.

The building had earlier been in a dilapidated condition. Its owner, Hari Ram Bansal, subsequently spent several months renovating it, and tenants began moving in during August 2026.

The hostel had around 30 rooms, with each room intended to accommodate two to three students. However, construction work was reportedly still underway when the building collapsed.

Labourers were working in the basement at the time of the incident. Of the 11 people rescued, two were labourers, one of whom later died.

Three arrested in Delhi hostel collapse case

Three people have been arrested in connection with the case — Hariram Bansal, his wife Urmila and their son Mahesh Bansal.

Records cited in the report show that electricity connections for the property were registered in the names of Hariram Bansal and Mahesh Bansal, while the property itself was registered in Urmila’s name.

The report also noted that the building was residential and was not intended for commercial use such as operating a paying-guest hostel.

Delhi civic body suspends five officials

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi suspended five officials a day after the tragedy.

Those suspended were Deputy Commissioner (South Zone) Rakesh Kumar, Superintending Engineer Ranvir Singh, Executive Engineer (Building) Lalit Kumar Goel, Assistant Engineer (Building) Sunil Chauhan and Junior Engineer (Building) Ashish Kumar.

Separately, the Delhi High Court ordered a high-level investigation into the collapse and observed that hostel facilities for students coming from outside Delhi were in a “pathetic condition.”

MCD order concerned neighbouring property

On September 6, the MCD had issued an order concerning the neighbouring property, number 13 in Satya Niketan, directing its owner or occupier to demolish the structure because it posed a threat to residents, visitors, passers-by and neighbouring buildings.

The collapsed building, however, was property number 14, according to an MCD statement.

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India News

LPU students protest over reported rape allegation, police call it rumour

Students at Lovely Professional University protested over a reported rape allegation involving a worker, with police describing the claim as a rumour.

Published

12 hours ago

September 27, 2026

APNLive Desk

Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt.

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously.

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting.

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

India News

“Will die but won’t give up”: Sahil Wakode’s parents urge IIT students to continue fight

Sahil Wakode’s parents have appealed to IIT Bombay students to continue their fight for justice amid the ongoing investigation into their son’s death.

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have appealed to students to continue raising their voices and fighting for justice following their son’s death.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay, died in his hostel room on September 18. His death has led to student protests and an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Sahil Wakode’s parents have alleged

Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay before his death. They have sought action against those they hold responsible and have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family has also called for a CBI inquiry and has sought the arrest of officials named in the case. These remain allegations and are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the probe after an FIR was registered following the complaint by Sahil’s parents.

IIT Bombay’s position

IIT Bombay has said that Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the matter had been discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Investigation continues

The case remains under investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

His parents have continued to demand justice and action against those they believe were responsible, while the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the case.