Rajinder Nagar Coaching Centre Incident: Delhi HC To Hear PIL On July 31

Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set to hear a PIL seeking the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the Rajendra Nagar incident, which resulted in the death of 3 people.

Advocate Rudra Vikram Singh mentioned the matter before a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, requesting urgent listing. The bench acknowledged the request and indicated that the matter would be heard tomorrow if all required papers are in order.

The petition, filed by the NGO Kutumb through trustee Jitender Singh and advocate Rudhra Vikram Singh, calls for an investigation into Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officers who allegedly failed to act on a complaint received on June 26. It also seeks the formation of district-level committees in each district of Delhi to investigate and address illegal commercial constructions.

The plea demands, “Submit an action taken report concerning the Mukherjee Nagar incident as previously ordered by the court. Formation of a committee to investigate coaching institutes operating illegally or not adhering to standard norms.”

According to the petition, these measures aim to tackle systemic issues in regulatory enforcement and ensure accountability for illegal construction and non-compliance by educational institutions. The plea further alleges that widespread corruption in the respondent departments has led to multiple fatalities over the years, with Delhi experiencing numerous tragic incidents.

The recent incident in Rajendra Nagar, where three young civil servant aspirants lost their lives due to alleged negligence, underscores the ongoing risks. The plea notes that this is not an isolated event, citing past similar occurrences in the national capital.

On July 28, another PIL was filed seeking directions for the MCD to implement immediate measures to prevent future incidents. This petition aims to address waterlogging issues and improve safety conditions in the city.

The plea highlights a devastating fire last year at a coaching institute in Mukherjee Nagar, northwest Delhi, where panic-stricken students jumped out of windows to escape the blaze. In response, the Delhi High Court ordered the immediate shutdown of any coaching centers not complying with fire safety norms.

The court had previously stressed the necessity of student safety, requiring all coaching centers to adhere to the statutory requirements of the Delhi Master Plan 2021 and other relevant regulations or face closure.

In the Rajendra Nagar incident, three civil service aspirants died after the basement of a coaching center flooded during heavy rainfall. The Delhi Fire Department received a call from Rau’s IAS Study Circle at around 7 pm on Saturday about the waterlogged basement.