The Supreme Court has taken significant action against the central and Delhi governments following the tragic deaths of three Civil Service aspirants who drowned in the flooded basement of a coaching center in Rajendra Nagar last month. The building, which was found to be in violation of civic and fire safety regulations, succumbed to heavy rains, leading to this unfortunate incident.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court severely criticized the authorities for their failure to regulate coaching centers, describing these institutions as “death chambers” and accusing them of “playing with the lives of children.” The court demanded to know what specific rules, if any, had been established for the operation of coaching centers, highlighting the numerous centers in Delhi that charge exorbitant fees for IAS exam preparation yet operate in hazardous conditions.
“These places have become death chambers. Coaching institutes can operate online unless there is full compliance with safety and basic norms for a dignified life. Coaching centres are playing with the lives of aspirants…” stated Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan.
The court emphasized that these norms should include proper ventilation, safe entrances, and exits to ensure the safety and dignity of the students. Additionally, the Supreme Court imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the Coaching Institute Federation for challenging a Delhi High Court order that mandated the closure of all coaching centers that had not passed civic and fire safety inspections. Nearly three dozen such centers have been shut down as a result.
The deaths of the students were attributed to a failure in the drainage system, which could not clear stagnant rainwater. This water, mixed with sewage, was washed back into the basement, leading to the tragedy. The incident has sparked widespread outrage over the city’s infrastructure capabilities.
Last week, the Delhi High Court criticized the police and city officials, stating, “Some officer has to be liable… these people must be alive,” before transferring the inquiries to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court questioned the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) about its ability to plan and maintain city infrastructure, especially during crises like floods.
“They are not equipped to deal with it… maybe they don’t understand how civic planning works. MCD officials are responsible for ensuring drains are functional… there is criminal negligence. It is not a swimming pool here,” the High Court remarked.
Investigations have uncovered multiple violations by the building and coaching center owners, including unauthorized use of the basement and providing false information to obtain a fire safety certificate. Seven individuals, including the building’s co-owners, have been arrested in connection with these violations. A city court recently dismissed their bail pleas, noting that the matter had been transferred to a federal agency.
