Following the March report, the Delhi High Court had directed the civic body to explore solutions, including widening the approach roads or implementing advanced fire safety measures within the affected schools
Ten months after the Delhi High Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to ensure fire safety compliance in schools without fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs), little progress has been made. A status report submitted by the MCD on Monday revealed that the issue of narrow approach roads, which hinder the issuance of fire NOCs to 101 schools, remains unresolved.
In its latest submission, the MCD acknowledged that 101 out of 1,184 civic schools cannot be granted fire NOCs due to the inaccessibility of fire vehicles caused by narrow roads. This issue was highlighted in a previous report submitted in March 2024, where the MCD had identified these schools as non-compliant with fire safety norms.
Following the March report, the Delhi High Court had directed the civic body to explore solutions, including widening the approach roads or implementing advanced fire safety measures within the affected schools. However, the MCD’s current status report does not provide clarity on any steps taken to address these directives.
Of the schools lacking fire NOCs, a significant number fall under the City-SP zone of the MCD. Currently, only 743 schools—approximately 63 per cent—of the total MCD-run schools have obtained the required fire safety clearances.
The petition leading to the court’s intervention was filed by Kush Kalra, represented by advocate Jyotika Kalra, raising concerns over the safety of students and staff in these schools. The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has scheduled the next hearing for March 19, 2025.
The lack of progress raises questions about the safety measures in place for students in these schools. Fire safety experts have consistently emphasised the importance of adhering to fire safety norms, especially in institutions housing young children.
The court’s upcoming session will likely scrutinise the MCD’s response and any proposed measures to resolve the long-standing issue. As the matter remains under judicial review, the safety of thousands of students attending these schools continues to hang in the balance.
