Govt schools will follow building code, High Court told……..Utkarsh Anand
New Delhi Learning a lesson from the death of five girl students in a stampede at a government school in Khajuri Khas last September, the Delhi government has told the High Court on Wednesday that all its school premises will henceforth abide by the National Building Code of India. The government also informed the Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Manmohan that a Rs 245-crore project drafted for improving the infrastructure of schools would be carefully implemented to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Delhi government standing counsel Najmi Waziri said the authorities had been instructed to see that all provisions of the building code were being adhered to to ensure safety of children. The building code stipulates the standardised requirements in the design and construction of public buildings like schools. The code regulates construction and building use to protect the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and addresses all aspects of construction, including structural integrity, fire resistance, safe exits, lighting, electrical, energy conservation, plumbing, sanitary facilities, ventilation, seismic design and use of construction materials.
The government is committed to put everything in place so that buildings are absolutely safe for the children and they are provided all the requisite amenities inside the premises. All the state schools, already built or being constructed, will strictly be in accordance with the National Building Code and comply with the standards mentioned therein, Waziri told the court responding to an affidavit submitted by the government in the court.
Newsline, which has a copy of the affidavit, had on July 16 highlighted that the report by the inquiry officer had blamed lack of planning, indifferent attitude, negligent behaviour, lack of promptness in taking decisions for the tragedy. The Bench has now asked Waziri to file a report of compliance in the court in November.