Delhi coaching centre deaths: SC directs Centre-appointed panel to submit interim safety measures within 4 weeks

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Union government to establish a high-level committee tasked with submitting interim safety measures within four weeks, following the tragic deaths of three IAS aspirants in a coaching centre basement in Delhi's Old Rajendra Nagar area in July.
The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, also instructed the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi to inform the court of any policy, legislative, and administrative changes implemented to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The bench also pointed out the necessity for consistent safety initiatives across the National Capital Region (NCR) to avoid another tragedy like the one in Old Rajendra Nagar.
On August 5, the Supreme Court had expressed serious concern over the safety of students in coaching centres, noting that they were rapidly becoming "death chambers."
The court had issued notices to both the Central and Delhi governments, urging immediate action. The matter gained judicial attention when a coaching centre association challenged a December 2023 Delhi high court order, which required inspections of all coaching centres in the capital to ensure compliance with fire safety norms.
The apex court dismissed the association's plea, deeming it frivolous, and imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh. The bench clarified that no coaching centre should operate unless they meet fire safety standards and other essential regulations.
To further ensure transparency, the Delhi high court had transferred the investigation from the Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), aiming to eliminate any public doubts about the inquiry's impartiality. The Supreme Court's directive and the ongoing efforts by various authorities demonstrate a commitment to preventing such tragedies and ensuring the safety of students in coaching centres across the country.
The court's intervention follows the deaths of three civil service aspirants—Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala—who drowned in the basement library of Rau's IAS Study Circle on July 27 when the area was submerged due to monsoon floods. Their deaths triggered protests from students demanding improved safety protocols in coaching centres throughout Delhi.