On Friday(5th April), Delhi High Court mandates inspection of Mukherjee Nagar coaching centers, led by Justice Yashwant Varma, to assess safety measures.
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NEW DELHI: On Friday(5th April), the Delhi High Court mandated a thorough inspection of comparable establishments situated in the area of Mukherjee Nagar. Led by Justice Yashwant Varma, the court has directed a specialized team, including legal experts and fire service personnel, to assess the operational status and safety measures of these coaching centers.
The court’s directive resulted from a series of legal proceedings regarding the operation of these educational centers, focusing on a particular case that the court had independently initiated after a distressing fire incident in June 2023. This proactive stance by the judiciary emphasizes the critical importance of safety regulations in educational institutions.
During the proceedings, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) revealed to the court that six coaching centres had been sealed due to non-compliance with existing regulations. Furthermore, it was noted that approximately 21 centres had voluntarily ceased operations, and over 20 others had received sealing notices.
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The court also acknowledged insights from amicus curiae advocate who raised concerns about the potential emergence of new coaching centres replacing those that had shut down.
“In view of the aforesaid, we call upon the MCD to submit a fresh status report setting out the total number of coaching centres which may be operating in Mukherjee Nagar as on date,”
– the bench, which also included Justice Ravinder Dudeja, mandated.
Moreover, the establishment of an independent inspection team was ordered, led by Gautam Narayan, to conduct a comprehensive survey of the coaching centres. The objective is to ascertain their compliance with the applicable safety regulations. The Delhi State Legal Services Authority has been tasked with nominating five empanelled lawyers to support this crucial endeavor.
Additionally, the Delhi Fire Services has been directed to independently verify the area’s safety protocols and identify any non-conforming coaching centres.
“We further direct Delhi Fire Services to undertake an independent exercise of verification of the area in question and submit a report on non-confirming coaching centres that may be identified,”
-the court announced. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the safety standards of educational facilities in the region.
The case is scheduled for another hearing in three weeks, during which the court will also discuss a petition filed by the Coaching Federation of India. This petition contests the categorization of coaching centers as “educational buildings,” which subjects them to strict fire safety regulations. The federation argues that this classification is arbitrary and imposes impractical standards on facilities originally intended as residential buildings.
This incident last year wherein a fire occurred at a coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar. Students were compelled to evacuate using ropes amid the emergency, attributed to an electrical fault. Consequently, there is a renewed examination of safety protocols within similar establishments.
The Delhi High Court has previously emphasized that “fire safety is a must” for coaching centres, insisting on full compliance with the Delhi Master Plan, 2021, and other relevant regulations. This mandate reflects a broader commitment to safeguarding the lives and futures of students, positioning safety as an indispensable aspect of educational provision in the capital.
