The Supreme Court has strongly criticised coaching centres in Delhi, declaring them “death chambers” in the wake of a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of three IAS aspirants at a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar. Taking suo motu cognisance of the situation, the court has issued notices to the Union and the Delhi Government to address the safety protocols currently in place for these establishments.
A two-judge bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, expressed profound concern over the incident, stating, “The coaching centres are playing with the lives of students and have become death chambers.” The bench highlighted the urgency of implementing stringent safety measures to protect students.
“This tragic incident is an eye-opener,” the bench remarked. “The coaching centres are playing with the lives of students and have become death chambers.” The Supreme Court’s observations highlight the urgency of implementing stringent safety measures to protect students attending these centres.
The court has directed the Union Ministry of Urban Affairs and the Delhi Government to provide detailed explanations regarding the safety norms currently prescribed for coaching centres and the mechanisms in place to ensure their compliance. The court emphasised the need for proper ventilation, safety passages, air, and light to ensure a dignified and safe environment for students.
In its suo motu action, the Supreme Court expanded the scope of the proceedings to include a comprehensive review of the safety standards in coaching centres across the national capital. The court’s intervention follows a December 2023 Delhi High Court order that mandated the closure of coaching centres operating without a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department.
The Supreme Court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Coaching Center Federation, which had challenged the Delhi High Court’s order. This fine is to be distributed equally between the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association and the Supreme Court Bar Association. The bench dismissed the Federation’s petition, reaffirming the necessity of strict compliance with safety regulations.
The Supreme Court further noted that if coaching centres fail to meet safety norms, they should transition to an online mode of operation until full compliance is achieved. “Coaching institutes can operate online unless there is full compliance with the safety norms and basic requirements for a dignified life of the students,” the court stated.
This development comes amid nationwide outrage over the deaths of the three aspirants, which has prompted calls for stricter regulations and oversight of coaching centres. The Delhi High Court has already transferred the investigation into the incident from the Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure transparency and public trust in the probe.
The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the critical need for immediate and effective action to safeguard the lives of students attending coaching centres in Delhi. The court has scheduled further hearings to review the responses from the Centre and the Delhi government, with the aim of establishing robust safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Earlier on July 27, three UPSC aspirants—Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala—drowned in the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar. Heavy rains caused severe flooding, trapping the students in the basement library. The incident sparked outrage across the country, drawing attention to the inadequate safety measures in coaching centres.
