On September 20th, the Supreme Court of India directed a high-powered panel, established by the Union government after the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants in Delhi’s Old Rajendra Nagar in July, to submit an interim report within four weeks. The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, also requested that the state governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi provide updates on any policy, legislative, and administrative changes implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future. This matter is scheduled for further review after four weeks.

In August, the Supreme Court had taken suo moto cognisance of the deaths and instructed the government to detail the measures taken to ensure that coaching institutes comply with safety protocols. The court emphasized that no coaching centre should be permitted to operate unless they strictly adhere to safety norms and regulations.

On August 2nd, the Delhi High Court mandated the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the incident. It also ordered the formation of a committee comprising the Delhi Chief Secretary, the Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Chairman of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Commissioner of Police. This committee was tasked with re-evaluating Delhi’s administrative, physical, and financial infrastructure to prevent such tragedies.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had also established a separate committee to investigate the incident. This committee includes the Additional Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs, Delhi’s Principal Secretary for Home Affairs, a Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, a Fire Advisor, and a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs. They are expected to submit their report within 30 days.

The incident that led to the deaths occurred when heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging in the basement of a coaching institute in Old Rajendra Nagar. This basement, which was being illegally used as a library instead of its designated purpose for parking and storage, became a death trap for 17 students who were trapped for several hours. The tragic loss of three lives brought to light significant safety issues within these educational establishments.

This case has underscored the need for stricter regulations and enforcement to ensure student safety in coaching centres across India. The investigations and subsequent policy changes are aimed at preventing such unfortunate events from recurring and ensuring that all educational institutions comply with necessary safety standards.