Close Down Coaching Centres Operating Without NOC From Fire Department: High Court Directs Delhi Govt, MCD

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi to close down the coaching centres operating in the national capital without a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Saurabh Banarjee also asked the Delhi Fire Services and other authorities to provide “logistical support” to the civic body for compliance of today’s order within 30 days.

The court said that the provisions of Delhi Master Plan, 2021, permit coaching centres to operate, subject to the conditions mentioned therein and that fire safety is a must.

The bench was hearing a suo motu case initiated in June after fire broke out at a coaching institute in city’s Mukherjee Nagar. An FIR was registered in Mukherjee Nagar under sections 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code after the fire incident.

The court had directed the Fire Services Department to examine the fire certificate and building sanction of all coaching centres in Delhi.

The Delhi Police in its status report filed before court submitted that only 67 of the total 583 coaching institutes in Delhi have requisite NOC from the Delhi Fire Services.

“As per the reports received, total 583 coaching institutes are running in Delhi, out of which 67 institutes are having Delhi Fire Service certificate, whereas 516 institutes are not having any certificate,” the status report said.

The matter will now be heard on October 10.