'What Happened In Lucknow Coaching Fire Incident Is Worrisome', P&H High Court Seeks Steps Taken By State To Protect Students

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a status report from Punjab authorities, detailing the steps taken to ensure fire safety in coaching centres and educational institutions, in the wake of a tragic fire incident in Lucknow that claimed 18 lives.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) raising concerns over fire safety violations in coaching centres said, “what has happened is worrisome.”

The State counsel for Punjab submitted that adequate safety mechanisms are already in place, including the appointment of a nodal officer to address such concerns, and that a separate statutory framework governs the issue.

While clarifying that it was “not expressing any opinion on the merits”, the Bench directed the State to place on record the steps taken to safeguard students and prevent such incidents.

“File a status report indicating the measures taken by the authorities to protect innocent students from fire incidents,” the Court ordered.

The PIL was filed in the backdrop of a news report published in The Tribune dated June 23, 2026, titled “Lucknow coaching centre blaze leaves 18 dead, majority of victims students.” As per the report, a fire broke out around 2:30 PM in a multi-storey commercial building in Aliganj, Lucknow, housing a coaching centre, library, animation training facility, and other establishments. Thick smoke engulfed the upper floors within minutes, trapping several students and trainees. The incident resulted in 18 fatalities, most of them students, and left several others injured.

Preliminary findings suggested that the building, originally approved for residential use, had been illegally converted into a four-storey commercial structure without obtaining mandatory no-objection certificates from fire and electricity departments. It was further reported that the premises exceeded its sanctioned electricity load and allegedly lacked basic fire safety infrastructure.

The PIL also relied on a subsequent news report dated June 24, 2026, highlighting fire safety violations in coaching centres during a surprise inspection conducted by the Municipal Corporation's Fire and Rescue Services Department.

The petitioner further referred to directions issued by the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment concerning fire safety in schools, mandating strict adherence to the National Building Code, installation of fire safety equipment, periodic structural evaluations, and training of staff in emergency response.

The matter is now listed for further hearing on August 10, 2026.

Title: Kanwar Pahul Singh v State of Punjab