New Delhi: A shocking revelation has been made about the PG accommodation which was running in the building which collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area
on Sunday evening. According to a report in the Times of India, the PG agreement signed by residents at the very beginning of their stay here stated that the hostel would not be responsible for any casualties and would not pay compensation for injuries or damage caused to tenants, due to fire, heavy rains, earthquakes and sealing of the premises.
The exact words written in the agreement are as follows, “In case of any personal injury suffered/loss/damage of personal belongings of the tenant due to reasons beyond the control of the PG, viz. sealing/fire/earthquake/heavy rains/other natural calamities etc. the hostel will not be liable for paying any compensation.”
The document further states, “The PG authorities are not responsible for any casualties to tenants.”
The clauses in the agreement were reportedly signed by the occupants of the building in Satya Niketan, which collapsed on Sunday evening. This has led to scrutiny of other such PGs which are operating from residential buildings in Delhi.
The agreement also mentioned cases where the PG owner would not be liable to pay for damages to the occupants. They specifically mention, earthquake, fire, heavy rains and sealing of the building. The agreement covers both personal injuries and loss of belongings.
The agreement clearly excludes the PG owner from any liability towards the occupants in any case whatsoever. The wordings used in the agreement clearly exclude responsibility of the owners towards tenant safety. How much of it is binding, depends upon the facts of the case and how much of it is applicable in the law.
The clauses came to light after the 5-storey building, housing a boy’s PG collapsed on Sunday evening. The incident claimed the lives of 7 people and left at least 13 others injured. The building is located in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus.
The collapse triggered a scrutiny of other PGs in the area, the building’s use as a PG accommodation and whether it had the requisite permits. Locals said that repair work was being carried out in the basement of the building and water had accumulated following days of rains. The building was already old and the water and repair work contributed to the structure weakening further.
Three people, including the PG owner have been arrested in the case and investigations are going on in the case, police said.
