USPC Aspirants' Deaths Case Transferred To CBI, Delhi High Court Comes Down Heavily On MCD For Criminal Negligence

Delhi Police on Friday (2 August) confessed in Delhi High Court that it has not recorded any statements of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials in the death of three UPSC aspirants in the coaching basement.

Taking strict note of it, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that the case should then be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"The fact that statements of MCD officials are not recorded seems to be very glaring at first blush. Three people have lost their lives. And it's becoming a norm, that MCD officials are not working," the court said.

Calling it a case of "criminal negligence," the court came down heavily on the MCD and asked it to ensure accountability. The court also transferred the case to the CBI.

"The problem is some organisations have gone beyond the law... Your financial health is precarious... whenever a building is sealed today due to unauthorised construction, its size increases. From two floors, it becomes five floors," it added.

"There is administrative, financial, physical infrastructure, storm water drains not corrected. We have called you here to tell you there is a need to relook how MCD has to function, how Delhi government should function," the court continued.

"We will send it to CBI and get it monitored. As far as this is concerned, there is problem with MCD," the court said adding that it is the responsibility of MCD officials to ensure that drains are functional.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking constitution of High Level Committee to probe deaths of three civil services aspirants after drowning in the flooded basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle.