Youth Lawyer Urges Delhi Chief Justice to Address Safety Violations in Coaching Centers

New Delhi– In a compelling open letter addressed to the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Manmohan, a Supreme Court lawyer Satayam Singh has urgently called for judicial intervention to tackle alarming safety violations in coaching centers across Delhi.

The appeal follows a series of tragic incidents that have exposed critical lapses in safety standards within these educational institutions.

Advocate Singh’s letter underscores the gravity of the situation, referencing two particularly devastating events.

On July 28, an IAS training academy in Old Rajendra Nagar experienced severe flooding, leading to the tragic deaths of three students.

Earlier, on June 15, 2023 a fire at a UPSC coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar resulted in injuries to 61 individuals. These incidents reveal a troubling pattern of inadequate safety measures and regulatory oversight.

Advocate Singh's letter accuses numerous coaching centers of flouting several legal provisions, including:

• Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957: Sections 331, 332, and 333

• Delhi Fire Service Act, 2007: Sections 25 and 26

• National Building Code of India: Part 4

• Delhi Fire Service Rules, 2010: Rule 35

Additionally, the letter cites breaches of key Supreme Court judgments, including:

• M.C. Mehta vs Union of India & Ors (2004)

• Uphaar Cinema Fire Tragedy Case (2003)

• Avinash Mehrotra vs Union of India & Ors (2009)

In response to these issues, Singh has called for a series of urgent measures to prevent further tragedies. He is seeking a comprehensive audit of safety standards across all coaching centers in Delhi, emphasizing the need for strict enforcement of existing regulations.

The petition also calls for the formation of a special task force to conduct surprise inspections and ensure that coaching centers are properly registered and licensed with safety compliance as a key criterion.

Additionally, Singh is advocating for the court to consider suo-moto action against authorities that have failed to enforce these regulations effectively. He also calls for the development of a robust policy framework to regulate coaching centers more effectively and ensure the safety of students.

Singh’s plea underscores the urgent need for reform and highlights the fundamental rights of students to a safe learning environment, as guaranteed under the Constitution of India.

The appeal serves as a wake-up call for both authorities and the public to address these critical safety issues and take meaningful action to protect students in Delhi's coaching centers.