New Delhi: Delhi govt is planning a framework for regulating coaching institutes that will have guidelines on fee structure, student safety, mental health support, infrastructure standards and staff welfare.A high-level meeting with senior officials from key regulatory and civic agencies was chaired by education and urban development minister Ashish Sood on Thursday.Govt has made the director of higher education the nodal officer, Sood said.A multidisciplinary committee will be formed, which will finalise the guidelines that will also look into counselling mechanisms for students, infrastructure standards, fire and emergency preparedness, and the working conditions for teachers and other staff.The department will consult all stakeholders, examine the committee’s findings and finalise the policy in three months, Sood added.The committee will also examine the best practices and recommend measures to ensure consistent implementation of these standards across institutions.A grievance redress mechanism for staff and students is also on the cards. In addition, the committee will aim for transparent reporting and resolution processes in a timely manner.Periodic inspections will be done and compliance will be monitored to ensure adherence to guidelines and for promoting accountability.The minister said the move follows the recommendations of the Justice R K Gauba committee, which was formed after the 2024 Old Rajendra Nagar coaching centre flooding tragedy, which killed several IAS aspirants and exposed serious structural and safety lapses by the coaching institute.“Following the recommendations of the Justice Gauba committee, the framework will address key issues, such as mental health, fee structure, content and advertising practices,” Sood said.Officials said the 2024 tragedy prompted a detailed judicial and administrative review. To prevent a recurrence of such incidents, Delhi High Court formed a committee under retired Justice Gauba to assess vulnerabilities in the coaching hubs of Delhi and recommend corrective measures. The committee has submitted its report, identifying systemic gaps and suggesting a stricter regulatory and oversight mechanism.Sood said Delhi govt is treating the issue of safety in coaching institutes with seriousness. He also asserted that Delhi could become the first state or Union territory to establish a regulatory framework for coaching institutes in line with the high court’s directions.The meeting on Thursday was attended by senior officials of MCD, Delhi Fire Services, the directorate of higher education, Delhi Police, labour, health and urban development departments, among others.
