The Delhi High Court has ordered the MCD and DDA to immediately close coaching institutions that are in breach of fire safety regulations. A court led by Justice Yashwant Varma, who had previously ordered an investigation of coaching centers in Mukherjee Nagar, also directed the authorities to relocate any potentially harmful electrical equipment situated outside the premises.

This ruling was made in response to a number of petitions challenging the operation of coaching institutes in the region, including a lawsuit filed by the high court after a fire broke out at one of the centres in June 2023.

Amicus curiae Gautam Narayan informed the court that, despite the MCD’s assertions that several coaching facilities had been closed, they had been proven to be running under new management or names. These facilities were discovered to be non-compliant with fire safety regulations, with one even having an electrical board obstructing the door.

The court chastised the MCD for failing to take action against these centers despite earlier orders. It required the quick closure and sealing of the designated properties. The bench highlighted the significance of fire safety, adding that all coaching facilities must meet regulatory criteria or risk closure.

The high court’s intervention follows a fire last year at a coaching facility in Mukherjee Nagar, which forced pupils to escape by scaling down the building using ropes.