'Coaching centres in Delhi have become death chambers'; Supreme Court files suo motu case; notices issued to central and Delhi governments

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has taken a suo motu case in the wake of the death of three people, including a Malayali student, at a civil service training centre in Delhi. A bench comprising Justices Suryakant and Ujjal Bhuyan observed that many coaching centres in Delhi have become death chambers through encroachment and illegal constructions. The bench ordered notices to be sent to the central and Delhi governments in the case. The court should be apprised of the measures taken for security in the training centres and the guidelines issued.

"You are taking away the lives of young ones coming from different parts of the country, and their lives are being taken away. The incident at the training centre in Old Rajinder Nagar should be an eye-opener for everyone. Coaching institutes can operate online unless there is full compliance with the safety norms and basic norms for the dignified life of young ones studying there. Such norms must include proper ventilation, safety passages, air and light," the Supreme Court directed.

One lakh fine

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Coaching Federation of India against the Delhi High Court's order to close the training centres in Mukherjee Nagar for non-compliance with fire safety norms. The court imposed a fine of one lakh rupees on the federation. The amount shall be credited equally to the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Advocates on Record Association. Delhi High Court handed over the investigation into the disaster at Rau's IAS Study Circle on the night of July 27 to the CBI last Friday.