Fire in East Delhi building; woman dead, 25 people rescued
New Delhi (PTI): A 40-year-old woman died in a major fire at a building in East Delhi's Shakarpur on Tuesday while 25 people were rescued, officials said here.
They said the fire started in the building's parking area in the early hours of the day and soon engulfed the entire structure.
The woman, identified as Anita, died of burn injuries at a hospital, the officials said, adding that another person, Naresh Nagar, suffered a fracture in his leg after jumping off the first floor of the burning building.
A total of 25 people were rescued, along with two pets, by Delhi Fire Service (DFS) personnel, they said.
"We got a fire call at about 1.05 am... We immediately pressed three fire engines to service. Later, five more fire engines were rushed to the spot. The matter was informed to the police immediately," a DFS official said.
The fire department officials said the blaze was brought under control around 8.35 am.
They said 31 people were trapped inside the building when it was engulfed in flames. Five of them jumped off the balconies to save themselves and the rest were brought out of the building by firefighters, the officials said.
They added that 10 people were rushed to hospitals such as the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital and other medical facilities and one woman died during treatment.
"During the rescue operation, Samay Singh of the DFS suffered breathing problems and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital," an official said, adding that he was later discharged after first-aid.
Identities of the victims are being ascertained, DFS officials said.
Police have registered an FIR in connection with the incident and launched an investigation.
Around 1 am on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, information was received regarding a fire in a car in Ganesh Nagar II, Shakarpur, police.
A police team reached the spot and an inquiry revealed that a fire broke out in a five-storey building having a parking lot and eight flats with single entry and exit points, they said.
Police said the fire started on the left side of the building which has the parking lot on the ground floor and four flats.
A total of 17 fire tenders reached the spot to douse the flames, they said, adding that CAT ambulances, a BSES team and a crime and forensics team were also pressed into service.
"All those injured, including a fireman, were rushed to LBS, GTB and Hedgewar Hospital. Initial inquiry revealed that a fire broke out due to a short circuit in the parking area on the ground floor. The fire started from the parking area and soon engulfed the first floor. The residents of the floors above sustained injuries due to excessive heat and smoke," DCP Amrutha Guguloth said.
Of the five men and four women who received injuries, one Anita (40) died, police said, adding that another person jumped off the first floor and fractured his leg.
Four cars, 11 two-wheelers and three bicycles parked on the ground floor were gutted, they said.
"An FIR under sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC has been registered and further investigation into the matter has been launched," Guguloth added.
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Deep societal faultlines persist despite 75 years of independence: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Judge cites denial of home to Muslim girl, opposition to Dalit women cooking mid-day meals
Hyderabad, February 23, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that despite repeated affirmations of constitutional morality by courts, deep societal faultlines rooted in caste and religious discrimination continue to shape everyday realities in India.
Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional Morality and the Role of District Judiciary” organised by the Telangana Judges Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy in Hyderabad, Justice Bhuyan reflected on the gap between constitutional ideals and social practices.
He cited a recent instance involving his daughter’s friend, a PhD scholar at a private university in Noida, who was denied accommodation in South Delhi after her surname revealed her Muslim identity. According to Justice Bhuyan, the landlady bluntly informed her that no accommodation was available once her religious background became known.
In another example from Odisha, he referred to resistance by some parents to the government’s mid-day meal programme because the food was prepared by Dalit women employed as cooks. He noted that some parents had objected aggressively and refused to allow their children to consume meals cooked by members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Describing these incidents as “the tip of the iceberg,” Justice Bhuyan said they reveal how far society remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality even 75 years into the Republic. He observed that while the Constitution lays down standards of equality and dignity, the morality practised within homes and communities often diverges sharply from those values.
He emphasised that constitutional morality requires governance through the rule of law rather than the rule of popular opinion. Referring to the evolution of the doctrine through judicial decisions, he cited Naz Foundation v Union of India, in which the Delhi High Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding that popular morality cannot restrict fundamental rights under Article 21. Though the judgment was later overturned in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, the Supreme Court ultimately restored and expanded the principle in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, affirming that constitutional morality must prevail over majoritarian views.
“In our constitutional scheme, it is the constitutionality of the issue before the court that is relevant, not the dominant or popular view,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also addressed the functioning of the district judiciary, underlining that trial courts are the first point of contact for most litigants and form the foundation of the justice delivery system. He stressed that due importance must be given to the recording of evidence and adjudication of bail matters.
Highlighting the role of High Courts, he said their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is intended as a shield to correct grave jurisdictional errors, not as a mechanism to substitute the discretion or factual appreciation of trial judges.
He recalled that several distinguished judges, including Justice H R Khanna, Justice A M Ahmadi, and Justice Fathima Beevi, began their careers in the district judiciary.
On representation within the judicial system, Justice Bhuyan noted that Telangana has made significant strides in gender inclusion. Out of a sanctioned strength of 655 judicial officers in the Telangana Judicial Service, 478 are currently serving, of whom 283 are women, exceeding 50 per cent representation. He added that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and persons with disabilities are also represented in the state’s judiciary.
He observed that greater representation of women, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities would help make the judiciary more inclusive and reflective of India’s diversity. “The judiciary must represent all the colours of the rainbow and become a rainbow institution,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to the recent restoration by the Supreme Court of the requirement of a minimum three years of practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial posts. While acknowledging that the requirement ensures practical exposure, he cautioned that its impact on women aspirants, especially those from rural or small-town backgrounds facing social and financial constraints, would need to be carefully observed over time.
Concluding his address, he reiterated that the justice system must strive to bridge the gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities, ensuring that the rule of law remains paramount.
