SC stresses on uniform standards to ensure students’ safety at coaching centres

Supreme Court emphasizes uniform safety standards for coaching centers after tragic student deaths, urging nationwide regulations for prevention.

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 21, 2024) stressed on having “uniform standards” to the extent possible to ensure safety and security of students studying at coaching centres.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a matter related to the deaths of three civil service aspirants at a coaching centre in the national capital in July due to the flooding in the building’s basement.

On July 27, the three students drowned in the basement library of Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area after it was flooded following heavy rains.

The top court was informed by senior advocate Siddharth Dave, who is assisting the top court as an amicus curiae, about the broad areas that required attention.

Dave referred to the aspects of fire safety, fee regulation, student to classroom area ratio, student to teacher ratio, installation of CCTVs, medical facilities, mental health care and counselling for those studying at coaching centres.

He suggested that all states be impleaded as parties in the matter.

The amicus further referred to the legislation dealing with coaching institutes in seven states. When Dave suggested some sort of an oversight, the bench said it should be permanent.