Delhi High Court Defers Hearing on Mukherjee Nagar Coaching Centre Fire Case

The Delhi High Court has postponed the hearing of a case concerning a fire incident at a Mukherjee Nagar coaching centre to October 15. This decision followed the Supreme Court's intervention in student safety, triggered by recent deaths in coaching centres. The High Court demands compliance with fire safety norms.

The Delhi High Court on Monday deferred until October 15 the hearing of a case it initiated following a fire incident at a coaching centre in Mukherjee Nagar last year. This decision came after the court was informed that the Supreme Court has taken up the broader issue of student safety in such institutes.

A bench headed by Justice Yashwant Varma was apprised of the Supreme Court's cognizance regarding the recent deaths of three IAS aspirants in the flooded basement of a coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar. The apex court has issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government for further action.

The Court, in its statement, noted the pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Acting Chief Justice concerning the Old Rajinder Nagar incident. The matter was adjourned for future directions and is scheduled for a hearing on October 15.

Previously, the Acting Chief Justice Manmohan's bench had transferred the investigation of the UPSC aspirants' deaths from Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure the public's trust in the probe.

In a significant observation earlier today, the Supreme Court criticized coaching centres as ''death chambers'' and addressed the lack of substantial safety measures. They have asked the Centre and the Delhi government to specify the prescribed safety norms for these centres and illustrate the mechanisms in place to ensure adherence.

The apex court was addressing an appeal by the coaching centres association challenging a December 2023 order by Justice Varma's bench. This order had mandated fire services and the civic body to inspect all coaching centres for compliance with fire safety norms.

The High Court had initially registered the case last year after a fire incident at a coaching centre in Mukherjee Nagar had left students scrambling down the building using ropes. Approximately 250 students were present during the incident, according to police reports.

The High Court previously underscored the necessity of fire safety and had mandated compliance with statutory requirements under the Delhi Master Plan, 2021, and other regulations. Non-compliant coaching centres were warned of potential shutdowns.

(With inputs from agencies.)