The Hindu : Front Page : Make fire safety inspection mandatory for schools: court

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Friday, Nov 23, 2007
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Make fire safety inspection mandatory for schools: court

Legal Correspondent

Adopt rules as framed by Tamil Nadu

Children exposed to hazards in poorly built buildings
Non-flammable roofing for schools in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi: Expressing concern at the 2004 Kumbakonam school blaze in which 94 children died, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to consider making mandatory furnishing of a fire safety inspection certificate before a school is granted permission to function. This should be done on the lines of the rules framed by Tamil Nadu.

Such a measure will go a long way in preventing serious fire accidents and ensure the safety of children who are exposed to hazards in poorly built school buildings, a Bench consisting of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Dalveer Bhandari said on Thursday.

PIL plea

It was hearing a public interest litigation petition, filed by Avinash Mehrotra, who in the light of the Kumbakonam tragedy, sought a direction to constitute a committee of jurists, legal experts and lawyers for preparing a comprehensive, time-bound report for carrying out reforms in safety standards for schools. He asked the court to evolve model safety standards as part of Article 21 and for free and fair exercise of Fundamental Rights under Articles 14, 15 and 19.

Tamil Nadu said the State government had taken immediate steps to remove all thatched roofs in schools and replace them with non-flammable material. No school was ordered closed as alleged by the petitioner. The Kumbakonam tragedy was caused by criminal negligence on the part of the school management and lack of effective supervision on the part of the officials concerned, it said.

The government also ordered that all noon-meal centres be provided with non-flammable roofing. Mandatory safety inspection by the Fire and Rescue Services department was being undertaken to ensure that all schools had adequate provision for entry, exit and emergency exit. A crash training course in handling fire emergency and undertaking fire safety drills was being organised regularly for teachers.

The Code of Regulations for Approved Nursery and Primary Schools and Matriculation Schools had been amended. It was made mandatory to obtain a no-objection certificate from the Fire Services Department for grant of permission for establishing a private school and for recognition, the Tamil Nadu government said.

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