Delhi High Court Refuses To Entertain PIL Alleging Deaths Due To Negligence In Construction Activities, Cites Lack Of Specific Pleadings

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation alleging that deaths were being caused in the national capital due to negligence in constructions here.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela rejected the petition filed by Advocate Sanser Pal Singh who appeared in person.

Singh submitted that despite Rules, Regulations, notifications and orders in place, people were being “killed” and “injured” in the city due to non compliance by the authorities.

He said that such deaths were being caused due to negligence in construction, lack of barricades and collapse of buildings.

As Singh referred to Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2002, the Court took exception to the Indian Kanoon document being used.

“You are an advocate right? You don't get these Rules in the library or in the official website? You went to Indian Kanoon to get it?” Justice Gedela remarked.

The bench also remarked that Singh should have approached the Court in PIL jurisdiction with a focussed prayer and added that his “omnibus prayer” could not be entertained.

The CJ said that Singh should have filed a properly drafted petition which, at present, was lacking and did not contain specific pleadings.

After arguing at some length, Singh sought permission to withdraw the PIL to file a fresh petition with appropriate pleadings and prayers.

“The petition is dismissed as withdrawn with the liberty as prayed for,” the Court said.

Title: Sanser Pal Singh v. UOI 

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 545