Coaching centers have turned into death chambers: Delhi, Center for

The Supreme Court of India has expressed grave concern over the recent deaths of three IAS aspirants at a coaching center in Delhi, describing the incident as an "eye-opener" and condemning the coaching centers as "death chambers" that endanger students' lives. The court's remarks came after a tragic event on July 27, when Tania Soni (25), Shreya Yadav (25), and Navin Delvin (28) lost their lives in a flooding incident at Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi.

The court's observation highlighted the urgent need for stringent safety measures in coaching centers, which are reportedly failing to adhere to fire and safety regulations. The Supreme Court has questioned the effectiveness of safety protocols enforced by both the Delhi government and the central government, urging them to clarify the measures they have put in place.

In a significant move, the Supreme Court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner, the Coaching Center Federation, for challenging a Delhi High Court order that mandated the closure of coaching centers lacking a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). The court also issued notices to the central government and the Chief Secretary of Delhi, seeking details on the implementation of safety norms in coaching centers. 

The court has asked the Attorney General to assist and emphasized that coaching centers should transition to an online mode if they cannot meet safety standards. However, this shift has not yet been fully realized, according to the court.

The Supreme Court was addressing an appeal filed by the Coaching Federation of India, which contested the Delhi High Court's decision regarding coaching institutes in the Mukherjee Nagar area, which had been found non-compliant with fire and safety regulations. The court rejected this appeal and upheld the High Court's directions while imposing additional costs of Rs 1 lakh on the Coaching Federation of India.

Justice Suryakant, heading the bench, remarked, "We are not sure as to what effective measures have been taken so far by the NCT of Delhi or the Union of India. The recent unfortunate incidents, taking away the lives of some young aspirants who joined coaching centers for their career pursuits, are eye-openers for one and all." 

The court has now expanded the scope of these proceedings suo motu (on its own initiative) and issued a notice to both the Union of India and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, demanding an explanation of the safety norms prescribed and the mechanisms in place for ensuring compliance.

This tragic incident has drawn attention to the urgent need for improved safety measures in educational institutions, especially in high-pressure environments like coaching centers. The deaths of the three aspirants underscore the critical importance of ensuring that such institutions adhere to stringent safety standards to protect the lives of students.