Today, On 10th May, The Delhi High Court issued orders to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to shut down coaching centers that are found to be violating safety regulations. This decision comes as a response to concerns about the safety of students and residents in Delhi. The enforcement of safety standards in coaching centers is crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring a secure learning environment.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court issued a directive on Friday to the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and the DDA (Delhi Development Authority) to immediately close down coaching centers that are operating in violation of fire safety regulations.
Under the leadership of Justice Yashwant Varma, a bench had previously ordered a team of lawyers to inspect coaching centers in Mukherjee Nagar. The court also instructed the authorities to relocate any electrical equipment that, installed outside the premises of these centers and could potentially pose a danger to the public.
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This court order made in response to a number of petitions concerning the operation of coaching centers in the area. The high court had also registered its own case after a fire incident occurred at one of these centers in June 2023.
The court-appointed amicus curiae, Gautam Narayan, informed the court that inspections carried out in April revealed that certain coaching centers which the MCD claimed had been shut down were actually still operating under new management or a different name.
Narayan further stated,
“These premises failed to comply with fire safety regulations, and in one instance, an electrical board was obstructing the entrance, posing a hazard in the event of a fire.”
The court criticized the MCD for neglecting to address these coaching centers despite previous orders to close down any institutes that violate fire safety norms. The court directed the MCD to take immediate action against these centers.
The bench, comprising of Justice Ravinder Dudeja, remarked,
‘”Is someone looking to play games? You seem to be focusing on minor details. The instruction was clear. ‘Shut it down’. No further discussion is necessary at this point. It’s your responsibility to close it down. The amicus is handling tasks that should be managed by the MCD. You have caused this problem, and now you must ensure that all four identified properties are shut down.”
The bench commanded,
“The court observed clear breaches of the sealing instructions previously issued and thus directed the MCD/DDA (Delhi Development Authority) to immediately seal the premises,”
Previously, the high court emphasized the “imperative of fire safety”, asserting that all coaching centers must adhere to statutory requirements outlined in the Delhi Master Plan 2021 and other relevant regulations, or risk closure.
Additionally, the court clarified on Friday that the classification of a building as an educational facility and its obligation to meet fire safety standards are contingent upon its usage. Consequently, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) have been tasked with conducting a fresh survey within four weeks to identify coaching centers that are non-compliant with regulations.
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The court stated,
“After an initial assessment, the court determines that the phrase “used for” in the Unified Building Bye Laws is crucial in establishing a building’s classification as an educational facility. Thus, for structures that might fall into other general categories but are utilized for educational purposes such as schools or coaching centers with over 20 students, the regulations pertaining to educational buildings will apply,”
In the previous year, the high court initiated a case independently upon observing a fire incident at a coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar in June. During the incident, students witnessed descending the building using ropes, prompting the court to take suo motu cognizance.