On Friday, the Supreme Court mandated the establishment of uniform safety measures for coaching institutes across India and directed a committee to propose interim measures within a month. This decision follows the tragic drowning of three students at a Delhi coaching centre on July 27.
A bench led by Justice Surya Kant emphasized the need for nationwide safety protocols, stating, “The unfortunate incident happened in Delhi, but this can happen elsewhere”. The Attorney general, R. Venkataramani, presented a notification regarding a committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) shortly after the incident, which involved bureaucrats from various governmental departments tasked with investigating the tragedy and suggesting preventive measures.
The court permitted the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to collaborate with the MHA committee to ensure coordinated safety initiatives across the National Capital Region. The committee has been instructed to submit its recommendations to the court within two months.
The Supreme Court also highlighted the importance of immediate policy and administrative interventions Venkataramani noted that the committee had already flagged issues regarding the lack of vigilance in enforcing existing laws. The bench remarked on the necessity of strict adherence to building regulations, emphasizing that structures designated for residential use should not host non-residential activities without proper oversight.
The order arose from a petition by the Coaching Federation of India Challenging a Delhi High Court mandate requiring coaching institutes to secure a fire no-objection certificate and adhere to safety norms under the Unified Building Byelaws, 2016. The Supreme Court had previously dismissed this petition while recognizing broader safety concerns beyond Delhi to include neighbouring states.
The case will be revisited next month, with the court allowing the father of one of the deceased students to intervene in the proceedings.