RAU COACHING DROWNING CASE TRANSFERED TO C.B.I. BY HIGH COURT

NEW DELHI, August 2, 2024 (TBINN)

Delhi High Court today transferred the probe into the drowning of three Civil Services’ aspirants at the basement of a coaching centre here from Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation “to ensure the public has no doubt over the investigation”.

A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan asked the Central Vigilance Commission (C.V.C.) to appoint a senior officer to oversee the probe by C.B.I. in the criminal case.

“Having regard to the nature of the incident and to ensure that the public has no doubt with regards to investigation, this court transfers the probe to the C.B.I.,” the court said.

It castigated the police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (M.C.D.) over the drowning incident, saying it was unable to fathom how the students could not come out and sought to know whether the doors were blocked or staircases narrow.

The bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, said administratively Delhi has a multiplicity of authorities which are only passing the buck and doing nothing.

The public perception is that Civic authorities are inefficient, the bench said.

It furthee said physical infrastructure in Delhi is nearly 75-year-old and they are not only inadequate but poorly maintained.

On being informed by the M.C.D. Commissioner, who was present in the court, that the storm-water drains in the area were dysfunctional, the bench asked why didn’t the officials inform the M.C.D. Chief about it earlier.

The bench also ordered removal of encroachments and unauthorised constructions, including on storm-water and sewage drains, in Rajinder Nagar Area.

It said M.C.D. officials are not bothered and it has become a norm.

Court said with the rise in Delhi’s population, the city needs a robust system and due to various subsidy schemes, the migration in the National Capital is also increasing.

It is time to have a relook at Delhi’s administrative, financial and physical infrastructure, the bench said and formed a committee headed by Chief Secretary to deal with the issue.

Slamming the Police, High Court said, “Mercifully, you have not challaned rainwater for entering into the basement, the way you arrested S.U.V.’s driver for driving his car there.”