NHRC Directs UGC and Delhi Government to Resolve Delhi University Hostel Shortage
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Delhi government and the University Grants Commission (UGC), directing them to formulate a comprehensive, time-bound action plan by October 15, 2026, to address the severe shortage of hostel accommodation for Delhi University students. The intervention aims to ensure safe, adequate, and affordable residential options for thousands of outstation students enrolled at the university.
The commission took up the matter following a formal complaint highlighting that Delhi University accommodates approximately 72,000 undergraduate students, yet existing campus hostels fulfill only a tiny fraction of the residential demand. Due to the lack of university accommodation, thousands of students are forced to rely on expensive, unregulated private paying guest (PG) facilities or rented rooms, imposing heavy financial burdens and safety risks on students and their families.
The issue gained heightened urgency following a tragic incident in South Delhi's Satya Niketan, where a building housing a boys' PG accommodation collapsed, resulting in casualties among students. In its order, the NHRC directed the Delhi Chief Secretary and the UGC Chairman to collaborate with Delhi University authorities and outline concrete measures for expanding hostel capacity, setting safety benchmarks, and regulating private accommodation standards to safeguard student well-being.
