Delhi High Court seeks report on lack of AC, drinking water, WiFi at DU Law Faculty

The Delhi High Court recently sought a report on the alleged lack of purified drinking water, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and other infrastructure facilities at Delhi University’s Faculty of Law [Ronak Khatri & Ors v University of Delhi and Anr]..In an order passed on June 12, Justice Amit Sharma appointed Advocate Rajesh Mishra as an amicus curiae to help examine and resolve the issue.The Court ordered that a meeting be held between the Dean, Students’ Welfare, Delhi University; the Dean, Faculty of Law; advocate Ankur Singh Mavi (who filed the plea before the High Court), and the amicus curiae about water coolers or provision for purified drinking water as well as the other infrastructural facilities, including the availability of Wi-Fi services.Justice Sharma also impleaded the Bar Council of India (BCI) as a respondent to the matter..Three students – Ronak Khatri, Ankur Singh Mavi, and Umesh Kumar -- studying at Delhi University’s Law Faculty had approached the High Court arguing that the lack of air conditioning in classrooms has created unbearable conditions, especially during peak summer months when temperatures in Delhi can reach up to 48 degrees Celsius.“This situation is contrasted by the presence of multiple air conditioners in administrative offices and staff rooms, indicating a significant disparity in the allocation of resources. Furthermore, the third building, constructed with makeshift materials such as tin roofs and asbestos-lined walls, exacerbates the heat issue, creating an uninhabitable learning environment. The students have on many occasions suffered heat strokes, fainting etc. including the Petitioner no 1 (Khatri),” the plea stated.It contended that around 5,000 students study at the Law Faculty. With such numbers, having only four water coolers was insufficient to meet the demand.“Situation of drinking water is so dire that all the Petitioners after having suffered health problems because of consumption of water from campus, have resorted to buying packaged drinking water and this expense have significantly increased their cost of education. The money that each of the petitioners have spent on buying of these water bottles is almost thrice of their college annual fee," the plea added. The petitioner-students further argued that connectivity issues at the campus hamper students’ access to essential academic resources..The University, however, maintained that necessary provisions for water coolers/ drinking water already exist. The Court has asked the University to coordinate with the stakeholders slated to meet with the amicus curiae and file a report before the next hearing of the matter. "Let the meeting be convened with the mutual convenience of the parties within 1 week from today. Mr. Mohinder J.S. Rupal, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondents Nos. 1 and 2 shall coordinate the same with the aforesaid stakeholders and a report with regard to the same be placed on record before the next date of hearing."The case is listed next on July 4. .Advocates Ankur Singh Mavi and Umesh Kumar appeared for the petitioners.Advocates Mohinder JS Rupal and Hardik Rupal represented the Delhi University. .[Read Order]