The Delhi High Court on Monday disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the roof collapse incident at Terminal-1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 28.
The bench, comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, made its decision after hearing submissions from the Central Government’s counsel.
The government representative informed the court that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has already formed a high-level expert committee, including structural engineers from IIT Delhi, to assess the incident and submit a report.
In response to the incident, the government has taken several proactive measures. All airport operators have been directed to conduct third-party audits of structural stability through reputed institutions such as IITs, NITs, CBRI, and EIL.
Additionally, operators are required to perform annual evaluations of all civil, electrical, and technical aspects of airport buildings before each monsoon season.
The court was also informed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regularly conducts surveillance and spot inspections to ensure compliance with airside infrastructure standards. An FIR under Sections 337 and 304A of the Indian Penal Code has been registered by Delhi Police, and an investigation is underway.
The PIL, filed by the Civil Safety Council of India through its President Yatin Swami, had sought directions for a multidisciplinary SIT to investigate the quality of building construction, project approval processes, and maintenance practices at Delhi Airport and other terminals across the country.
The petition alleged that non-adherence to building regulations and rushed project completion were primary factors behind the incident, which resulted in the death of a 45-year-old cab driver and injuries to eight others, including a Merchant Navy officer.
(Inputs from ANI)
