Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved disciplinary proceedings against two Delhi Fire Services officers for negligence linked to the drowning of three IAS aspirants in a flooded coaching centre basement last year. The officers allegedly concealed the illegal use of the space during a safety inspection. They were suspended following a probe into the July 2024 incident.
On July 27, 2024, heavy rainfall caused the basement library of RAU’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, to flood, trapping and drowning three UPSC aspirants. The tragedy highlighted safety lapses in coaching centres, prompting investigations into regulatory failures.
A probe by the district magistrate revealed issues with the fire safety certification process. On July 1, 2024, Divisional Officer Ved Pal and Assistant Divisional Officer Udai Vir Singh inspected the premises for a Fire Safety Certificate. Despite the basement being illegally used as a seating room and library, they recommended approval, leading to the certificate's issuance on July 9, 2024, by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS).
An official from the L-G office stated, “Ved Pal and Udai Vir Singh gave a go ahead for the basement to be illegally used as a seating room/library. Both were found responsible for concealment of the fact regarding misuse of the basement as a library and failure on their part for referring the matter of misuse of the basement as a library.” The officers face charges of negligence of duty and concealment of facts under Rule 18, read with Rule 14, of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.
Both Group A officers were suspended by L-G V K Saxena last year after the probe. On November 8, 2025, Saxena approved disciplinary proceedings, directing the Directorate of Vigilance to complete them within the stipulated timeline. This action underscores ongoing efforts to enforce accountability in public safety oversight in Delhi.