On Thursday, the Delhi High Court demands an updated progress report from both the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Fire Department. This request was made in relation to a series of petitions addressing the functioning of coaching centers in Mukherjee Nagar.

While seeking a fresh report from the authorities, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna posted the matter for further consideration on November 28.

The bench was handling a group of petitions regarding the functioning of coaching centers situated in Mukherjee Nagar, a prominent area for individuals aspiring for government jobs. Additionally, the court was addressing a self-initiated plea following a fire incident on June 15 at a coaching center in north Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar, causing injuries to 61 students.

In October, the court emphasized the non-negotiable nature of student safety, stating that coaching centers failing to adhere to the statutory guidelines outlined in the Delhi Master Plan 2021 would be mandated to cease operations. During the previous hearing, the court granted approval for two distinct impleadment requests submitted by residents of Mukherjee Nagar and the Coaching Federation of India.

“They are impleaded as parties and are free to file a response in the matter. Coaching Federation of India is required to be heard as consequential orders are required to be passed in their capacity,” the court had said.

The Coaching Federation had submitted a plea requesting the court to review its July 25 directive, which instructed the Delhi Authorities to close down coaching centers operating in the region without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire services department. In response, the bench directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Mukherjee Nagar police station, the state government, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to furnish their status reports on the matter within a span of four weeks.

The court's stance was explicit: if a coaching center fails to comply with the regulations outlined in MPD 2021, it must cease operations. The responsibility lies with the authorities to ensure adherence to these norms. In an earlier oral remark, the court highlighted that the Master Plan-2021 specifies the registration of mixed land use with associated charges. It emphasized that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is responsible for this registration, subject to fulfilling conditions under clause 15.7.3 of the MPD. The court concluded that coaching centers not meeting these norms outlined in the MPD should be closed down, particularly those lacking a Fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

The court instructed all relevant authorities, such as the Delhi government, police, and fire department, to assist the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in closing down institutes that do not comply with the regulations. Additionally, the court empowered the civic body to cancel the registration of these institutes if they fail to meet the necessary norms outlined for operation.

Case Title: Kanchan Gupta v. Lt. Governor, State of Delhi & Ors