Today, On 21st October, The Supreme Court emphasizes the need for uniform safety standards in coaching centers across India to ensure the well-being of students. This comes amid rising concerns about student safety, with the court calling for stricter regulations and enforcement. The initiative aims to prevent accidents and ensure that all institutions adhere to consistent safety measures. Authorities are urged to prioritize student protection in these educational facilities.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Monday, emphasized the need for “uniform standards” to enhance the safety and security of students at coaching centers.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was reviewing a case concerning the tragic deaths of three civil service aspirants at a coaching facility in Delhi during a flooding incident in July.
On July 27, the three students tragically drowned in the basement library of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, located in Old Rajinder Nagar, after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, who is serving as an amicus curiae, highlighted various crucial areas that need attention. He pointed out the importance of addressing fire safety, regulating fees, maintaining appropriate student-to-classroom and student-to-teacher ratios, installing CCTV systems, and providing medical facilities, as well as mental health support and counseling for students attending coaching centers.
He suggested that all states should be impleaded as parties in the case.
The amicus also cited legislation regulating coaching institutes in seven states. When Dave proposed some form of oversight, the bench emphasized that it should be permanent, stating,
“It can’t be that an unfortunate incident occurs and suddenly everyone becomes aware of everything.”
The apex court emphasized the necessity for consistent standards regarding the issue at hand. The respondent authorities instructed to provide input to the amicus curiae on the feasibility of establishing a comprehensive policy for coaching institutes, starting with the National Capital Region (NCR). The case is set to be reviewed in two weeks.
During the proceedings on September 20, the Supreme Court directed a committee appointed by the Union government, which is investigating the three student deaths, to present an interim report detailing recommended measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The court also requested updates from the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi regarding any policy, legislative, or administrative changes implemented to avert such occurrences.
The court insisted that uniform initiatives across the NCR should be implemented to avoid another incident like the one in Old Rajinder Nagar. It noted that the committee should explore interventions at legislative, policy, and administrative levels, while also gathering opinions from all stakeholders before finalizing its recommendations.
Furthermore, the apex court indicated that it would be examining the broader issue at a national level to prevent similar tragedies from happening elsewhere. On August 5, the court remarked that coaching centers had become “death chambers,” jeopardizing the lives of students.
This issue brought to light during a hearing of a petition from a coaching center association contesting a December 2023 Delhi High Court decision that mandated inspections of all coaching centers by the city’s fire services and civic bodies to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.
The high court also transferred the investigation into the deaths of the three students from the Delhi Police to the CBI to ensure public confidence in the inquiry. The three UPSC aspirants who tragically drowned were Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala.
The unfortunate event has raised significant concerns about the safety regulations in coaching institutes across the National Capital Region (NCR). The Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing will involve a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, focusing on the measures required to prevent such tragedies in the future.
In its earlier hearing on September 20, the Supreme Court directed a Union government-appointed committee to provide an interim report detailing preventive measures that should be implemented. This call to action extends beyond merely addressing the specific case; the apex court has urged the Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi governments to outline the policy, legislative, and administrative changes they have enacted since the incident.
The court emphasized the need for uniform initiatives throughout the NCR to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again, stating, “Uniform initiatives should be taken in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) to prevent another Old Rajinder Nagar-type incident from happening.”
Attorney General R Venkataramani confirmed that the Centre has established a high-level committee to examine the incident comprehensively. The committee is expected to evaluate interventions at various levels legislative, policy, and administrative while also gathering insights from all relevant stakeholders.
This inquiry aims to address the “wider canvas” of safety measures required across India, highlighting the Supreme Court’s commitment to ensuring that such tragedies do not recur nationwide.
In a stark critique, the Supreme Court previously remarked that coaching centres have become “death chambers”, jeopardizing the lives of students who enroll there. The court took cognizance of the matter while hearing a petition from an association of coaching centres challenging a December 2023 order by the Delhi High Court. This order mandated that the city’s fire services and civic bodies inspect all coaching centres to ensure compliance with fire safety norms.
In a significant step, the Delhi High Court transferred the investigation into the drowning of the three students from the Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), aiming to eliminate any public doubts regarding the investigation’s integrity.
The loss of three promising civil service aspirants sparked a nationwide conversation about safety standards in coaching centres. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear this crucial case, the hope remains that meaningful changes will arise from this tragedy, safeguarding future generations of students. The court’s involvement signifies a step towards holding institutions accountable for the safety of their students and ensuring that such heart-breaking incidents are not repeated.