How many Delhi schools are adhering to fire safety and building stability norms, asks PIL in High Court

Of the thousands of schools, both private and government run, in the national capital, how many are actually complying with fire safety and building stability norms is the question raised by a PIL in the Delhi High Court.

The petitioner, a lawyer, has alleged that the Delhi government and its various authorities do not have an answer to this query, and that is why he was forced to approach the court.

The public interest litigation (PIL) claims that the Supreme Court had in 2009 issued directions to all the schools in India to have fire safety certificate and stability certificates, but these were not being complied with it.

The petitioner, Kush Kalra, has alleged that the Delhi government’s education directorate, the fire services and public works department are being negligent in performing their duty to take steps to ensure that the schools are complying with building stability and fire safety norms.

The Delhi-based lawyer has claimed that authorities, including the municipal corporations, were clueless as to whether any school under their jurisdiction is actually complying with the norms.

The PIL, filed through counsel Rajesh Gogna, said the petitioner came to know about the lack of data with the authorities on this issue after he raised …read more