Supreme Court Takes Action After Tragic Deaths of UPSC Students in Delhi
New Delhi [India], August 5: The Supreme Court of India has taken notice of the recent deaths of three UPSC students in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar. A bench of justices, Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, observed that coaching centers have become ‘death chambers’ while hearing a petition filed by the Coaching Federation of India.
The court dismissed the appeal by the Coaching Federation of India against a Delhi High Court order. The court noted the tragic incident in Old Rajinder Nagar and stated, ‘These places (coaching centres) have become death chambers. You are taking away the lives of young ones coming from different parts of the country.’
The court suggested that coaching centers should operate through online classes until they fully comply with fire and safety norms under the Master Plan of Delhi, 2021, and Unified Building Bye-Laws of Delhi, 2016. The norms should include proper ventilation, safety passages, air, and light.
The Supreme Court asked the Centre through the Ministry of Urban Affairs and the Delhi Government to show what safety norms have been prescribed and the mechanisms for their compliance. A notice was issued to both governments regarding safety norms for coaching institutes.
Meanwhile, the court rejected the Coaching Federation of India’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s directions over safety norm failures in Mukherjee Nagar. The court also imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on the petitioner, directing it to be deposited with the Supreme Court Bar Association and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association.
Three students drowned in the basement of a coaching center in Old Rajinder Nagar, which flooded following heavy rains in Delhi last week.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and justice.
UPSC -: UPSC stands for Union Public Service Commission. It conducts exams to select people for important government jobs in India.
Old Rajinder Nagar -: Old Rajinder Nagar is a place in Delhi, India. Many students live there to prepare for exams like the UPSC.
Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan -: Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan are judges in the Supreme Court of India. They help make decisions about important cases.
Coaching centers -: Coaching centers are places where students go to get extra help and study for exams. They are like special schools.
Central and Delhi governments -: The Central government is the main government of India, and the Delhi government is the local government for the city of Delhi.
Coaching Federation of India -: The Coaching Federation of India is a group that represents coaching centers. They try to make sure coaching centers follow rules and help students.
Non-compliance -: Non-compliance means not following the rules or laws. In this case, it means the coaching centers did not follow safety regulations.
