Delhi HC Directs Closure of Coaching Centers Without Fire Department’s NOC

The Delhi High Court recently directed the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to close down coaching centers operating in the national capital without a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Saurabh Banarjee also directed the Delhi Fire Services and other relevant authorities to provide “logistical support” to the civic body to ensure compliance with the order within 30 days.

The court emphasized that while the provisions of Delhi Master Plan, 2021, permit coaching centers to operate under certain conditions, fire safety measures are mandatory.

Accordingly, the bench directed the Fire Services Department to scrutinize the fire certificates and building sanctions of all coaching centers in Delhi.

In a status report submitted before the court, the Delhi Police revealed that out of the total 583 coaching institutes in Delhi, only 67 possess the necessary NOC from the Delhi Fire Services. The remaining 516 institutes do not have any certificate, as per the report.

The bench was hearing a suo motu case initiated after a June 15 fire incident at a coaching center in north Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar. The blaze resulted in injuries to 61 students.

The court was also hearing a multiple public interest litigations filed by residents of Mukherjee Nagar, including Kanchan Gupta, residents of Lado Sarai, and other areas. These residents sought the closure of illegal coaching centers that pose health and life hazards to the public.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on October 10, 2023.