Due to the shortage of available and adequate hostels for students of Delhi University (DU), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued directives to the Chief Secretary of Delhi and the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The Commission has instructed them, together with DU, to prepare a consolidated 'action-oriented report' within four weeks.
This report must contain information on the current state of facilities, requirements for each college, measures taken, and a proposed plan with timelines for increasing housing stock.
The directives issued by the NHRC collegium, chaired by Priyanka Kanoongo on September 7, take on particular significance against the backdrop of the tragic building collapse in the Satya Niketan area, which resulted in student fatalities.
In its latest order, the commission referred to its notification dated September 30 of last year, which was sent in response to a complaint from the organizations Network for Access to Justice and Multidisciplinary Outreach Foundation. This non-profit organization alleged that DU enrolls approximately 72,000 undergraduate students, but hostel availability is extremely low. This forces students to rent expensive private apartments or rooms in PGs, creating a serious financial burden and negatively affecting overall quality of life.
When the Kanoongo collegium first requested a report from the Delhi government and the Ministry of Education last year, receiving no response, information was only obtained from the registrar (colleges) of Delhi University after sending a reminder with a warning of possible actions on November 11.
The Commission noted that the received response does not satisfy the substance of the stated complaint and lacks a specific, coordinated, or time-bound plan to resolve the shortage of hostel spaces. Furthermore, it lacked details on existing hostels and the scale of the deficit.
In its report, DU indicated that funds for infrastructure improvement, including hostel expansion, must be provided by funding agencies, namely the UGC and the Delhi government. The university stated that it is addressing this matter with the relevant funding bodies.
The university reported that students study for undergraduate degrees in 65 constituent/affiliated colleges. Of these, 12 colleges are fully funded by the Delhi government, while the remaining 53 colleges are fully or substantially (100% or 95%) funded by the UGC.
Nevertheless, the NHRC emphasized that this issue should not remain confined to correspondence between the university, its colleges, and the respective funding structures. The Commission demanded coordinated review and action by the responsible authorities overseeing funding and infrastructure.