UPSC Aspirants Dead: On Monday, a lawyer appealed to the Delhi High Court to address the deaths of three UPSC aspirants caused by flooding in the basement of a coaching center
The lawyer also requested that the court order an immediate safety audit of all educational institutes and libraries in the national capital.
In a letter to the high court’s acting chief justice, advocate Satayam Singh described the incident as “part of a larger pattern of negligence affecting educational facilities” in areas where numerous coaching centers operate in clear violation of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) regulations.
“The frequent occurrence of such incidents highlights a systemic failure in ensuring student safety. The right to education should not compromise the right to life as protected under Article 21,” Singh stated in his letter.
He emphasized, “Prompt and decisive judicial action is essential to prevent further loss of young lives and to uphold the rule of law. I urge your lordship to treat this matter as one of significant public importance and initiate appropriate legal measures to safeguard our students’ futures.”
Singh expressed concern about the lack of fire safety measures, emergency exits, and overcrowding in coaching centers, as outlined in building regulations.
He called for mandatory installation of flood prevention systems and proper drainage, especially in basement facilities, and urged the imposition of strict penalties, including immediate closure and criminal charges, against centers that do not comply with regulations.
Singh also suggested that the acting chief justice consider initiating suo motu action against authorities that fail to enforce existing regulations.
“Anxious parents, aspiring students, and concerned citizens are looking to the judiciary to protect the sanctity of educational spaces,” Singh stated in the letter.
The incident that prompted Singh’s letter involved the deaths of three Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) aspirants due to flooding in the basement of the Rau’s IAS Study Circle building in Old Rajinder Nagar, a central Delhi coaching hub, following heavy rainfall last week.
In response, Delhi Police have arrested the owner and coordinator of the coaching center, charging them with culpable homicide and other offenses.
Last year, the high court took suo motu cognizance of a fire at a coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar, and that matter is still pending.
In the Mukherjee Nagar incident, police reported that around 250 students were attending classes in the building known as Bhandari House at the time of the fire. Panic-stricken students were seen using ropes to climb down from the top floor as smoke poured from the windows.
(With inputs from agency)
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