‘Death chambers, playing with lives’: SC on coaching centre tragedy in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday took suo moto cognisance of the tragic deaths of three civil service aspirants due to the flooding of a coaching centre basement in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar last month. The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government, seeking responses.
“These coaching centres have turned into death chambers,” the bench noted.“They can operate online unless they fully comply with safety norms and basic standards for a dignified life. These institutes are jeopardizing the lives of aspirants who come from various parts of the country.”
The apex court also instructed the Centre, the Delhi government, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to file responses detailing the safety norms currently in place. The bench expressed deep concern over the safety and well-being of students at coaching centres.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had transferred the investigation from the Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure transparency and public confidence in the inquiry.
The victims of the incident, identified as Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Bihar, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala, had all perished due to the flooding.
In the wake of the tragedy, students from various coaching institutes have staged protests, calling for enhanced safety measures. On Sunday, a candlelight march was held, with students gathering in front of the coaching centre to honor their deceased peers.
“They were exceptionally bright students,” one protester reflected. “Their absence is deeply felt, and their memory will drive our protest forward. We want to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”
Protesters have also voiced their frustrations over the lack of timely action regarding issues such as high rents and inadequate infrastructure. “While we understand that drafting new legislation takes time, the immediate problems like high rent and inadequate safety measures must be addressed,” one protester was quoted as saying.
The protesters’ demands include substantial compensation of Rs 5 crore for each victim’s family, affordable access to library facilities, and proper maintenance of drainage systems in the area.
Political figures, including Aam Aadmi Party leaders Sanjay Singh, Atishi, and Shelly Oberoi, as well as Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, visited the protest site to engage with students and discuss possible resolutions.
Meanwhile, the Tis Hazari court dismissed the bail pleas of the co-owners of a basement in Old Rajendra Nagar.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Rakesh Kumar, after reviewing submissions by the Delhi police, rejected the bail applications of Harvinder, Tejinder, Parvinder, and Sarabjeet.The judge ruled that they may seek bail from the appropriate court following the investigation transfer.