This marks the first time the police headquarters, located on Jai Singh Marg, has been denied a fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC)
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) has refused to renew fire safety certificates for two major public buildings — the Delhi Police Headquarters and Lok Nayak Hospital — citing serious violations of fire safety regulations.
This marks the first time the police headquarters, located on Jai Singh Marg, has been denied a fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC). Lok Nayak Hospital, one of the Capital’s busiest government facilities, has now seen its application rejected twice this year due to continued non-compliance.
The decisions come in the wake of increased scrutiny of fire preparedness across public institutions, following a series of hospital and industrial fires earlier this year. As reported by some media organisation in May, the DFS had also turned down safety certificate renewals for Ambedkar Nagar Hospital, Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, and two AIIMS blocks.
Under the Delhi Fire Services Rules, 2010, public and commercial buildings are required to renew their fire clearance every three years. Officials said thorough inspections were carried out, with formal notices and rectification guidance issued to the concerned authorities. Fresh inspections may be requested once the violations are addressed.
The Delhi Police HQ — a 17-storey twin-tower complex inaugurated in 2019 — houses the commissioner’s office, surveillance units, and key intelligence wings. An inspection in May, prompted by a renewal request filed in April, found five major lapses. A DFS report dated 5 June highlighted the replacement of mandated fire check doors on the 17th floor with ordinary glass doors and the removal of door closers, compromising the lift lobby’s pressurisation system.
“Fire check door has been replaced with normal glass door at the 17th floor and door closers also found removed… which make the pressurisation ineffective,” the report stated. It also noted the absence of a reception desk at the lift lobby and several non-functional smoke detectors.
“These lapses directly affect the containment of smoke and fire in an emergency,” a senior DFS official said. “A high-rise like the police HQ must meet the highest standards — anything less is a risk to life and property.”
A Delhi Police spokesperson said the issues raised were “minor errors which are being rectified”, adding that corrective work was already in progress. “There’s no permanent denial. It’s only a report on what all needs to be fixed,” the spokesperson said.
Lok Nayak Hospital fared worse. Having first applied for renewal in March-April, its application was rejected in April and again on 30 May, following a second inspection that revealed persistent and in some cases worsening lapses.
DFS officials said the inspection uncovered violations in the casualty OPD, surgical block, ortho block and new special ward, with some posing “serious threats” to patient and staff safety.
In the surgical block and casualty OPD, access routes for fire tenders were either unmarked or obstructed by construction debris. A staircase in the surgical block was blocked by waste — a significant hazard during evacuation.
Officials said both institutions can request a fresh inspection once deficiencies are resolved.
