UPSC aspirant deaths: SC says coaching centres have become ‘death chambers’; issues notices to Centre, Delhi govt

UPSC aspirant deaths: The Supreme Court described coaching centres as “death chambers” that are jeopardizing students’ lives in a statement on Monday, as it issued notices to both the Centre and the Delhi government regarding the drowning of three IAS aspirants in an institute’s basement.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the case, a bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that the incident serves as a wake-up call for everyone.

On July 27, three civil services aspirants drowned in the basement library of Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar after the area was inundated due to heavy rainfall.

Seven individuals, including Abhishek Gupta, the CEO of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, and coordinator Deshpal Singh, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

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“This situation is appalling. If necessary, we might even shut down these coaching centres. For now, coaching should be conducted online unless these centres strictly adhere to building regulations and safety standards,” the  bench commented.

The bench further criticised coaching centres as having become “death chambers” and accused them of risking the lives of aspirants who travel from various parts of the country with hopes and ambitions.

“The tragic event, which resulted in the loss of three young aspirants who joined these coaching centres for their future, highlights a critical issue. Thus, we find it necessary to broaden the scope of this case and issue notices to the Centre and the NCT of Delhi to explain what safety regulations have been established and what mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance,” they said.

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The Supreme Court addressed the issue while reviewing a petition from an association of coaching centres that contested a December 2023 Delhi High Court order. This order had instructed the city’s fire services and civic body to inspect all coaching centres to ensure they met fire safety standards.

Labelling the petition as frivolous, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on the association, declaring that no coaching centre should operate without adhering to fire safety and other regulations.

On Friday, the Delhi High Court transferred the investigation into the deaths of the three students from Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure public trust in the inquiry.

Also Read: Death traps: How coaching centres put lives of students at risk

The deceased were identified as Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala.

Following the incident, students from various coaching institutes have been protesting, calling for enhanced safety measures at these centres. (With inputs from PTI)