A public interest litigation has been filed before the Supreme Court, seeking directions for the formulation and enforcement of a National Minimum Fire and Life-Safety Framework for high-risk public occupancy premises across the country. This move comes in light of recurring fire tragedies in schools, hospitals, coaching centers, hotels, and commercial establishments. The petition aims to establish uniform minimum fire and life-safety standards for public buildings, irrespective of the existing regulatory framework in different states.
The existing legal framework governing fire safety is fragmented and uneven across states and union territories, resulting in inconsistent standards and enforcement gaps that continue to endanger public safety. The PIL seeks directions for the formulation and implementation of a National Minimum Fire and Life-Safety Framework covering schools, hospitals, coaching centers, hotels, guest houses, entertainment venues, commercial buildings, and other public occupancy establishments.
The petition has prayed for effective mechanisms to ensure compliance with fire safety norms, periodic inspections, emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, and accountability for violations by authorities and occupiers. It has referred to a series of fire tragedies across the country, including the Uphaar Cinema fire, the AMRI Hospital fire, and the Surat Takshashila Arcade coaching center blaze, among others. These incidents expose systemic deficiencies in fire prevention, enforcement, and public safety despite the existence of various statutory provisions and judicial directions.
The recurring pattern of catastrophic fires demonstrates systemic regulatory failures, fragmented legal standards, and inadequate enforcement mechanisms, resulting in continuing threats to public safety. The PIL contends that the matter raises substantial questions of law concerning the enforcement of fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21, and the constitutional obligation of authorities to ensure reasonable safety standards in public spaces.
The petition has relied upon previous Supreme Court judgments, including Avinash Mehrotra v. Union of India relating to fire safety in schools and the apex court’s suo motu proceedings concerning hospital fires. It has also referred to the National Building Code, Model Building Bye-Laws, NDMA guidelines, and the Model Fire Service Bill, 2019. A representation dated June 24 had already been submitted to the Union and state authorities seeking formulation and enforcement of a National Minimum Fire and Life-Safety Framework, but no effective action had been taken.
The PIL seeks to address the systemic issues that have led to these tragic incidents and ensure that public safety is protected through the establishment of uniform fire safety standards across the country.
