Delhi’s rules for operating paying guest accommodation may be revised after the Satya Niketan incident, with a government-appointed sub-committee examining how PG housing can be legally and safely regulated near major educational centres and within group housing societies.
Education Minister Ashish Sood announced the formation of the sub-committee at the second meeting of a high-level committee on student accommodation and safety, according to Live Hindustan – NCR. The panel includes representatives from the Delhi Development Authority, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi government and the vice-chancellor of Delhi University.
The sub-committee will study the provisions required in the Master Plan and the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, including possible exemptions that could allow PG accommodation to operate legally in areas where current planning or municipal rules may restrict such use. It will also examine the possibility of regulating PGs within group housing societies and residents’ welfare association areas.
The proposed review will cover locations within a five-to-six-kilometre radius of major educational centres. These areas often have strong demand for student accommodation, but the government’s announcement indicates that the existing framework may not provide a consistent system for registering, inspecting and monitoring such properties.
The high-level committee was constituted following the incident in Satya Niketan. Its stated objective is to create a comprehensive and effective regulatory framework for PG accommodation and hostels in Delhi. The review is expected to address both the legality of these establishments and the safety conditions in which students live.
As part of the proposed system, the government is developing a web portal to collect information about student residences. The initial version is expected to record basic details such as the number of rooms, available facilities and other essential information about the accommodation. Delhi University and the MCD are expected to conduct an initial trial of the portal within the next two to four days, followed by a student-registration campaign.
The government has also planned inspections of 100 identified cases. Joint teams from the MCD and the DDA are expected to inspect these properties over the next three days, reviewing their safety standards and legal-compliance status. The source report did not specify the locations of the 100 cases or the enforcement action that may follow any violations.
The proposed regulatory framework may make CCTV cameras mandatory at the entrances and in common areas of PG accommodation. The announcement did not provide details on other possible safety requirements, such as occupancy limits, fire-safety certification, emergency exits or inspection frequency.
The issue places several institutions in the same regulatory chain. The DDA’s planning provisions, the MCD’s municipal enforcement responsibilities, the Delhi government’s policy role and the universities’ role in identifying student accommodation will all need to operate through a common system. The sub-committee’s review of the Master Plan and the DMC Act will determine how those responsibilities are eventually formalised.
The high-level committee is scheduled to meet again after Dussehra. At that meeting, members are expected to review the sub-committee’s report and finalise a draft regulatory framework for PG accommodation and student housing. Until that process is completed, the government’s proposals remain under consideration rather than being a new set of enforceable rules.
