Supreme Court Initiates Suo Moto Cognizance Over Deaths Of UPSC Aspirants

On Monday, the Supreme Court has initiated suo moto cognizance in response to the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants in Delhi’s Old Rajendra Nagar on 27 July.

Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, leading the bench, required the Central and Delhi governments to provide detailed reports on the safety compliance measures they are implementing in coaching institutes.

The court emphasized that no coaching center should operate unless it adheres strictly to established safety norms.

This development follows a recent directive by the Delhi High Court, which instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the incident.

The court also established a committee to reassess Delhi’s administrative, physical, and financial infrastructure.

The committee will include the Delhi Chief Secretary, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Vice Chairman, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Chairman, and the Commissioner of Police.

Additionally, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has formed its own investigative committee.

The team, which includes the Additional Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs, Delhi’s Principal Secretary for Home Affairs, a Special Commissioner from Delhi Police, the Fire Advisor, and the Joint Secretary from MHA, must deliver its findings within 30 days.

Heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging in the basement of a coaching institute in Old Rajendra Nagar, which someone illegally used as a library, leading to the tragedy.

The flooding resulted in the deaths of three students and left 17 others trapped for several hours.

The basement was intended solely for parking and storage but was repurposed in violation of regulations.

Also Read: Supreme Court Upholds Delhi L-G’s Authority To Appoint Aldermen To MCD