A civil services aspirant has reached out to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud seeking immediate intervention of the Supreme Court into the recent deaths of three UPSC students in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar after the basement of a coaching centre was flooded.
In his letter, Avinash Dubey claimed that students were living "like insects" and a "life of hell" due to the mismanagement in areas in Old Rajinder Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar, prominent coaching hubs in the national capital.
The aspirant urged the top court to take strict action against officials responsible for the mishap. "I humbly request you to take action against those responsible for the death of three students and protect our fundamental rights," Dubey wrote.
The student also requested the Supreme Court to direct concerned officials to find a permanent solution to the recurring problem of waterlogging in areas such as Old Rajinder Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar.
Three IAS aspirants -- Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Nevin Dalvin from Kerala -- died after the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle coaching institute was flooded following rain on Saturday evening.
Furthermore, Dubey highlighted that students living in these areas endure "a life of hell" due to annual flooding, a consequence of the "apathy" displayed by the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
The student also accused the civic bodies of neglecting proper drainage systems, leading to recurring floods.
"Due to clogging of drains, floodwater reaches inside the house. We have to walk in knee-deep drain water... The Delhi government and municipality have forced us to live like insects," Dubey wrote in his letter.
"It is our fundamental right to study while living a healthy life. Unfortunately, the Delhi government and municipality are completely indifferent to this," the aspirant further wrote.
"Due to waterlogging, there is a serious threat to the safety and health of students studying in such centres... students need a safe and healthy environment so they can study without fear, and contribute to the development of the country," he added, emphasising the urgent need for a secure and conducive learning environment.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court has sent all five accused -- four co-owners of the coaching centre at Rajinder Nagar and the driver of a car -- to judicial custody for 14 days.
Additionally, Delhi Police has written to the MCD seeking the status of de-silting of drains near the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre which was flooded. Police have also sought details if any complaint was given against the coaching institute to the civic agency or not.
