A public interest litigation seeking sweeping nationwide reforms in emergency response and public safety systems has reached the Supreme Court, filed by Dinesh Kedviya, whose daughter was among the 22 students who lost their lives in the 2019 Takshashila Academy fire in Surat.
The Supreme Court has issued notices to all state governments on the plea and scheduled the matter for hearing on January 5.
Kedviya has clarified that the petition is not driven by personal tragedy alone but is aimed at preventing similar disasters in the future. In the PIL, he points to what he describes as continuing systemic failures that allow avoidable accidents to claim lives across the country.
The Takshashila fire had exposed serious lapses in civic oversight and enforcement of building safety norms. The blaze broke out in a commercial building where coaching classes were functioning on higher floors, leaving students trapped amid heavy smoke. Several teenagers died after jumping from the building while trying to escape. Subsequent investigations revealed that the premises lacked mandatory fire safety clearances and violated structural regulations.
Arguing that the tragedy reflects a wider national problem, the petition states that India is facing persistent deficiencies in fire services, disaster preparedness and road emergency response mechanisms. These shortcomings, it says, lead to daily fatalities and injuries that could be prevented through effective implementation of existing laws and systems.
The PIL also highlights the absence of a uniform framework to fix accountability, award compensation and enforce corrective measures following major accidents. It raises concerns over who bears responsibility, how victims are to be compensated and what steps are taken to prevent recurrence.
According to the petitioner, such failures directly infringe upon the right to life guaranteed under Article 21, as well as Article 14, by resulting in unequal and arbitrary access to emergency services due to the lack of a consistent national safety regime.
The plea further alleges non-compliance with key statutory instruments such as the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the National Building Code, arguing that binding safety standards are routinely ignored by governments and local authorities.
It contends that the state has fallen short of its constitutional obligation to safeguard life, property and dignity, violating principles of the Public Trust Doctrine and the welfare-oriented objectives outlined in the Preamble.
The petition also cites Directive Principles under Articles 39(a), 39(e) and 47, asserting that while these provisions are not independently enforceable, they assume legal force when read alongside Articles 14 and 21 in cases involving public safety. Referring to past Supreme Court rulings that have interpreted the right to life as including safety, security and dignity, the PIL urges judicial intervention under Article 32, terming the situation a nationwide systemic failure that demands urgent corrective action.

Surat Fire Victim’s Father Moves SC for Reforms

After Gujarat’s Takshashila blaze, PIL demands strict national safety systems

Surat Fire Victim’s Father Moves SC for Reforms

After Gujarat’s Takshashila blaze, PIL demands strict national safety systems

December 2, 2025 | 21:22 IST