No Fire NOC for Schools Below 15m: A Breathing Space for Institutions, But Are We Breathing Safely?

The Supreme Court Ruling

On 10 September 2025, the Supreme Court of India, in the landmark case of JVRR Education Society vs State of Andhra Pradesh, declared that educational institutions housed in buildings below 15 metres in height are exempt from obtaining a Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC).

The judgment, delivered by Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi, was based on a plain reading of the National Building Code (NBC), 2016, which mandates fire clearance only for high-rise buildings (above 15m). The case originated from allegations that the institution had forged a fire safety NOC to gain recognition. But the Court clarified: when the law itself does not demand an NOC for sub-15m buildings, its absence cannot constitute cheating or fraud.

At one level, the ruling reduces red tape for smaller schools often struggling with bureaucracy. But beneath this technical relief lies a serious question: does exemption from a Fire NOC also mean exemption from responsibility?

The answer, without ambiguity, is No.

Fire NOC: More Than Bureaucracy

Let us pause to understand what a Fire NOC is. Too often it is dismissed as paperwork, another government stamp. But in truth, a Fire NOC is a life-saving certificate. It is issued only after fire authorities verify that a building complies with essential safety measures:

• Adequate and accessible fire exits.

• Firefighting equipment — extinguishers, hose reels, hydrants — installed and functional.

• Alarm and detection systems to alert occupants in time.

• Safe electrical wiring and load management to prevent short circuits.

• Water storage capacity for firefighting needs.

• Clear, unblocked, and well-lit evacuation routes.

It is, in short, an external guarantee that the space where our children study is not a death trap.

Exemption from NOC should be seen only as a relief from paperwork. It must not be misinterpreted as a license to neglect safety.

The Price of Negligence: Kumbakonam Tragedy

India does not have the luxury of forgetting its history. The Kumbakonam school fire of 2004 in Tamil Nadu killed over 90 innocent children. The school had thatched roofs, congested classrooms, no emergency exits, and no preparedness. Children were trapped inside a blazing classroom, unable to escape.

This was not a natural disaster. It was an administrative disaster. It was a failure of oversight, preparedness, and responsibility.

The Kumbakonam fire is not just an incident. It is a permanent reminder that safety lapses in schools cost lives — and those lives are of our children. Even the smallest school, even a single-storey building, can become a furnace if safety rules are ignored.

With NOC vs. Without NOC: The Gap That Kills

The Court’s ruling essentially creates two categories of schools:

Schools With NOC

• Inspected by fire authorities.

• Deficiencies must be corrected before certificate is issued.

• Renewal ensures periodic compliance.

• Legal accountability in case of lapses.

Schools Without NOC (<15m)

• No mandatory inspection by fire officials.

• Safety compliance left to the discretion of management.

• Small but deadly violations (expired extinguishers, locked exits, loose wiring) may remain invisible.

• In emergencies, preparedness is untested and often absent.

This gap is not theoretical. It is a matter of life and death. The difference between a school that has been checked and one that has never been checked is the difference between survival and catastrophe when fire strikes.

The Standards Already Exist

The irony is that India already has a framework for safety. The problem is compliance.

BIS and NBC Norms

• IS 14435:1997 – Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Educational Institutions (BIS).

• NBC 2016, Part 4 – Fire and Life Safety: exit dimensions, material standards, water storage, alarm systems, escape routes.

• ISI-certified equipment standards for extinguishers, electrical fittings, and construction materials.

National School Safety Programme (NSSP)

Launched by NDMA and Ministry of Education, it mandates:

• School disaster management plans.

• Training of teachers and staff in emergency preparedness.

• Rapid visual screening of buildings for risks.

• Structural and non-structural mitigation.

• Mock drills and awareness campaigns for students.

National Education Policy (NEP 2020)

The NEP emphasizes safe and inclusive learning environments. Safety is not peripheral; it is central to education. Without physical safety, no educational outcome can be achieved.

Together, these norms are comprehensive. But on the ground, they remain poorly implemented.

Emergency Preparedness: The Bare Minimum Every School Must Ensure

1. Written Disaster Management Plan – Roles, responsibilities, assembly points, communication strategies, and evacuation maps displayed publicly.

2. Mock Drills – Fire and earthquake drills at least once per term, involving all students and staff.

3. Trained Personnel – Teachers and staff trained in first aid, firefighting, and evacuation leadership.

4. Infrastructure Safety – Exits wide and outward-opening, non-combustible construction, properly maintained wiring.

5. Functional Equipment – ISI-marked extinguishers, alarms, detectors, water supply, all maintained and inspected.

6. Community Transparency – Certificates and inspection reports displayed, parents informed.

These are not luxuries. They are the baseline for human safety.

What Exemption Really Means

Let us be clear: the Supreme Court ruling means only this — schools below 15m are not legally required to obtain a Fire NOC.

It does not mean:

• Fire safety rules don’t apply.

• Schools can neglect exits, alarms, drills, or equipment.

• Parents should assume their children are safe.

Exemption is not abdication. It is relief from a document, not from responsibility.

A Revolutionary Way Forward

If the government has removed the NOC requirement, it must fill the vacuum with stronger mechanisms:

1. Independent Third-Party Audits – Accredited agencies should inspect and certify schools annually.

2. Mandatory Annual Safety Certificates – Like hygiene certificates in restaurants, safety certificates must be displayed at school entrances.

3. Parental Empowerment – Parents must demand to see safety certifications before admission.

4. Government Enforcement – State education boards and local administrations must conduct random inspections.

5. Zero Compromise Culture – Safety drills, training, and audits must become part of school culture, not optional add-ons.

To summarise

The Supreme Court is right in clarifying the law. But we, as a nation, will be wrong if we interpret this as a relaxation of safety. Children do not die any slower in a single-storey fire.

The Kumbakonam tragedy must remain etched in our collective memory. Safety is not negotiable. Exemption from NOC must not be mistaken for exemption from responsibility.

If the government removes one layer of oversight, it must install another. And as citizens, parents, and educators, we must demand nothing less than uncompromising safety for every child.

Because when we compromise, it is not rules that burn — it is our children.

Authored by Dr. K. Saravanan

“All the information presented above is based solely on the past and present experiences of firefighters, the legal provisions available in India, and

represents a collective opinion and ideas of diverse voices, filtered for educational purposes. This content reflects the perspective of the author and may

represent a different school of thought, with the overarching aim of promoting safety and contributing to the vision of a safer and more resilient India.”

©drtksaravanan2025