Regulate coaching institutes post Surat Tragedy: PIL filed in Supreme Court

In the wake of the tragedy at Surat in which twenty-two students lost their lives in a fire at a Coaching Institute, a Public Interest Litigation petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of India praying for regularization of private Coaching institutes.

This PIL filed by a Delhi-based Lawyer, Pawan Prakash Pathak also prays for directions to the Centre to frame guidelines for safety measures to be adopted by such institutes. The petitioner says there should be a scheme for private coaching institutes as well as a minimum standard for operation.

The increasing number of coaching classes mushrooming over time seemingly has led to a “parallel education system”, the petitioner contends.

But these institutes largely remain unregularised and are not governed by any rules or statutes. There are few exceptions to this norm and Bihar is one such example. However, with the regularisation of these private institutes, aspects such as basic facilities, fees, and safety measures will have to be in consonance with the guidelines. After initial resistance, the regulations will “create a better scenario”, the petitioner opines.