SC panel flags widespread breach of building safety norms in Delhi

A Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee flagged widespread violations of Delhi's Master Plan, building bye-laws, and fire safety norms in a 39-page report.

The committee cited the Hauz Rani hotel fire that killed 23 people as evidence of unchecked illegal construction and weak enforcement by civic agencies.

The panel recommended a complete overhaul of Delhi's mixed-use policy and a review of the Bed and Breakfast Establishments Act, 2007.

It proposed a citywide survey to identify commercial activities operating from unsafe buildings and the withdrawal of MCD circulars permitting social functions in hotels and farmhouses.

The committee also suggested random fire safety inspections even in buildings with fire clearances and transfer of related cases to the Supreme Court bench handling unauthorised construction.