UPSC aspirants’ death: Delhi Minister Atishi on July 31 said that the Delhi government will bring law to regulate the coaching centres, after three IAS aspirants drowned in the flooded basement of an institute in Old Rajinder Nagar. During the press conference, Atishi also stated that a magisterial inquiry to ascertain which officer ignored complaint about institute's illegal basement.
She explained that the drain which was the reason for the waterlogging was encroached upon by all the coaching centres and because of which water was not going down the drain. Atishi also highlighted that the operation of coaching centres in basements and the establishment of libraries there were entirely illegal.
After the Rajinder Nagar incident, the minister announced that the basements of 30 coaching centres have been sealed and notices have been issued to 200 institutes.
The minister also said that the Delhi government will constitute committee comprising officials, students from coaching hubs to formulate regulations for coaching centres.
Atishi said, “The Junior Engineer who was responsible for the drain there and to ensure there was no encroachment happening, that Junior Engineer was permanently terminated from MCD. The Assistant Engineer was suspended...magisterial report will come in 6 days and those who will be found responsible, strict action will be taken against them...the coaching centres which had encroached upon drains, those illegal encroachments have been bulldozed...the coaching centres that are running classes in the basement and set up libraries, strict action is being taken against them since last 3 days…”
In the press conference, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi was also present. She added, "...We will listen to the demands of the students, we will hold a meeting with them soon and after that, we will pass that regulation in the Delhi Assembly..."
Meanwhile, students are protesting and have gone on a hunger strike over the deaths of three students. Tariq Thomas, Additional Commissioner of the MCD, spoke with the protesting students and said, “... It is a failure for all of us and me personally also. It is a failure for us as officers that this incident has happened... This should not have happened. We should have done our duty better, there is no excuse...”
(With inputs from ANI)
