Interim report of a special cabinet subcommittee proposes relaxation of fire safety, building safety rules for private schools

It has been recommended that the Ministry of School Education and Literacy should ensure that all government and private educational institutions that started operations before 2018 should have fire extinguishers. | Photo credit: File photo

A special cabinet sub-committee headed by Puttanna, MLC, recommended to the government that buildings up to 15 metres, including basement, of educational institutions set up before 2017-18 be exempted from requirements such as sprinkler, overhead tank or sump of 5,000/10,000 litres, 450 LPM (litres per minute) and alternative water supply system.

However, keeping in mind the safety of children, fire extinguishers, sand buckets and other equipment should be installed compulsorily, the committee said.

It has been recommended that the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) should ensure that all government and private educational institutions that started operations before 2018 should have fire extinguishers.

The interim report of a special cabinet sub-committee set up to examine and report on the relaxation of rules and exemptions in the regulation issued by the government regarding recognition and renewal (RR) of private aided and unaided schools started before 2018 was submitted to School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Wednesday (September 9).

Schools which have been gifted by ancestors or have been in operation for many years should not be asked for new land transfer documents for renewal of recognition, she said, adding that the certificate of registered engineers should be considered for the safety of the buildings.

A new deposit of ₹3,00,000 or an electronic bank guarantee should not be required for old school RRs. As per the old rule, only a fixed deposit amount of ₹ 30,000 should be considered. The committee also said that the Right to Education (RTE) fee should be released immediately and without delay.

Separate online portals should be created for renewal of RR of old schools and permission of new schools, she recommended, saying that it is not appropriate to impose new rules for educational institutions on schools established before 2018. It was suggested that if there is a shift of old schools and colleges for some reason, permission should be given under the old Order.

The commission also recommended reducing the minimum number of students to 20 for RR.

Published – 9 Sep 2026 23:57 IST