On Thursday, the Delhi High Court issued a directive requiring coaching centers with student capacities exceeding 20 to shift their operations from residential zones to commercial areas. This measure aims to uphold student safety standards and ensure adherence to fire safety protocols.

In response to a petition filed by the Coaching Federation of India, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora expressed serious concerns regarding the safety hazards faced by students attending coaching centers located in residential structures that lack crucial safety features, including two staircases.

During the hearing, the bench underscored the importance of coaching centers with significant student enrollments operating from commercial premises instead of residential ones. The court emphasized the crucial need to protect the lives of students, asserting that coaching centers must not compromise on safety standards.

The petition contested the classification of coaching centers as "educational buildings" under the Unified Building Bye Laws-2016 (UBBL-2016), which was done through the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) notification in February 2020.

Advocate Rajeshwari Hariharan, representing the petitioner, contended that this classification subjected coaching centers to stringent fire safety regulations, impeding their operation within current residential structures.

In response, the court directed the petition to be listed for further hearing before another division bench specializing in fire safety issues related to coaching centers.

The petition argues that the notification is arbitrary and violates constitutional provisions, including Article 13(2), Article 19(1)(g), and Article 14, as it imposes ambiguous regulations without considering the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD)-2021 and the National Building Code (NBC)-2016.

While the coaching centers expressed their willingness to comply with fire safety norms and undergo audits, the counsel for the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) mentioned the imminent release of MPD-2041, which is anticipated to comprehensively address these concerns.

Case Title: Coaching Federation of India v. DDA & Anr.