The Delhi High Court has mandated the collaboration between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Fire Services (DFS) to form a Joint Task Force responsible for thoroughly assessing and inspecting all coaching and teaching centers located within Mukherjee Nagar, a region in the city.

Justices Yashwant Varma and Ravinder Dudeja, comprising a division bench, have instructed the Joint Task Force to compile a detailed report highlighting any violations and discrepancies observed, including non-compliant elements within the coaching and teaching centers under scrutiny.

The court has mandated the Joint Task Force to formally notify all non-compliant coaching institutes or centers of their infractions and inform them about necessary corrective actions that should be taken to address these issues.

Additionally, the court authorized the Joint Task Force to issue immediate orders, including potential closures, regarding coaching centers that are deemed openly hazardous and unfit for operation. This decision aligns with public safety regulations outlined in the Master Plan for Delhi (2021), the Unified Building Bye Laws for Delhi (2016), and the Delhi Fire Service Act (2007).

Moreover, the court instructed that any requests submitted by coaching institutes for inspection and approval of fire safety permits should be promptly reviewed and processed by the Joint Task Force, ensuring the timely disposition of these applications.

“All institutes and centres operating out of Mukherjee Nagar shall ensure that the process of instruction and training to enrolled students is not disrupted. In case of temporary closure, they shall ensure that instruction through the online mode is continued and the interests of the enrolled students accorded paramount consideration,” the court said.

The bench was addressing multiple petitions focused on the increasing presence of coaching institutes and commercial activities in Mukherjee Nagar. These petitions highlighted concerns regarding the failure of these establishments to adhere to fire safety and public safety regulations.

The collection of petitions also encompasses a case initiated by the court on its own (suo motu) in June of the previous year. This particular case was instigated following a fire incident at a coaching institute located in Mukherjee Nagar.

Advocate Gautam Narayan was appointed as amicus curiae in the matter.

The bench noted that the Master Plan for Delhi (2021), Unified Building Bye Laws for Delhi (2016), and the Delhi Fire Service Act (2007), when considered alongside their respective Rules, form an integrated and all-encompassing framework. This framework serves to govern and oversee development and construction activities and delineate permissible usage in various zones across the capital city.

The bench declined to amend a previous order issued by the corresponding bench on July 25 of the preceding year. This order had instructed the Delhi Government and MCD to shut down coaching centers functioning in the national capital without a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department.

Title: SANJAY SINGHAL v. STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. and other connected matters