Time up for coaching centres

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Centre) Nazuk Kumar has issued orders for sealing over 60 coaching centres in the city for failing to comply with fire safety norms.

Sources said the SDM issued the orders under Section 133 of the CrPC and directed the Enforcement Department to start the sealing proceedings with immediate effect.

The SDM, along with fire officers, had carried out a survey of the coaching centres to check fire safety in Sector 11, 15, 17, 22, 23 and 24.

It was done after a fire broke out on May 24 at a coaching centre in Surat, Gujarat, which led to the death of 22 students and injuries to several others. The SDM then issued orders to the violators to get a fire NOC within 30 days failing which they were directed to appear before the court of the SDM.

Only a few institutes/coaching centres were able to produce the NOC from the Fire Department.

Those who failed to do so will now be sealed. To prevent loss to students  due to the   negligence  on the part of the coaching centres, the  latter have been directed to refund the students’   fees  or to make  arrangements  to hold classes at alternative   venues.  

The SDM  has given  10 days to the Enforcement Department  to  complete  the  sealing process  and submit a report. The owners  may also face legal action, including a jail term, in case they fail to comply with the orders. The centres provide coaching for the IAS, PCS, judicial services  and other competitive examinations

Violations galore

Teams of the Fire Department  had found violations on a large scale at the coaching centres. An officer of the Fire Department most of the centres had no escape routes in case of an emergency and the fire alarm system and water tanks on the rooftop were missing. The hydrant system was also not working in some centres.