Delhi High Court Orders Coaching Centers With More Than 20 Students To Move Out Of Residential Areas

The Delhi High Court has ruled that coaching centers with more than 20 students must move out of residential areas and relocate to commercial spaces. This decision comes after concerns about safety in coaching centers located in residential buildings.

The court, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, made the decision while hearing a petition from the Coaching Federation of India. They observed that coaching centers in residential areas pose risks to students' lives as they often lack necessary safety measures, like two staircases.

The court emphasized that coaching centers with over 20 students should operate from commercial buildings rather than residential ones. They also discussed the inclusion of coaching centers in the category of "educational buildings" by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 2020.

The petitioner argued that this classification was arbitrary and did not consider existing residential buildings' limitations. They stressed that coaching centers should not be treated the same as formal educational institutions.

The court directed the case to be heard by another bench specializing in fire safety at coaching centers. They mentioned that they couldn't overturn the 2020 notification by the DDA but emphasized the importance of fire safety regulations.

Last year, the High Court initiated a case following a fire incident at a coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar. The incident highlighted safety concerns in such establishments, prompting the court to address the issue.