Fire safety clearances for the Dwarka and Karkardooma district court complexes have been held back after inspections by the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) found multiple deficiencies, including non-functional fire alarm and firefighting systems, blocked exits, inadequate smoke-management arrangements and damaged fire-safety equipment, officials aware of the development said on Wednesday.
At Dwarka court complex, the inspection flagged encroachment on roads, missing door closers, damaged fire doors and alterations blocking alternate exits. At Karkardooma, the deficiencies included the need for additional fire-hose reels, blocked alternate exits, absence of a smoke-management system and missing exit signage.
At Dwarka, DFS said several shortcomings identified during an earlier inspection in March remained unrectified even after a subsequent inspection in July. In a letter dated July 31, 2026, the department said renewal of the fire safety certificate “cannot be considered at this stage” and directed the authorities to rectify the deficiencies.
The complex, located in Sector 10, was inspected on March 20 in the presence of PWD officials. The fire service’s March 30 report listed 14 shortcomings. A subsequent inspection on July 14 found that these had still not been fully addressed.
Among the deficiencies, the six-metre-wide motorable road around the building was found “encroached/blocked”. The fire service also found that door closers of fire-check doors in all three buildings were missing at some places, while some fire doors were damaged. Major additions or alterations had been made on the second floor of the lawyers’ block, blocking an alternate exit. Some stairs were also found closed in the basement.
{{/usCountry}}Among the deficiencies, the six-metre-wide motorable road around the building was found “encroached/blocked”. The fire service also found that door closers of fire-check doors in all three buildings were missing at some places, while some fire doors were damaged. Major additions or alterations had been made on the second floor of the lawyers’ block, blocking an alternate exit. Some stairs were also found closed in the basement.
{{/usCountry}}“The manual-operated electric fire alarm system was found non-functional in two blocks, while openable windows had been replaced with fixed windows in some stores and areas of the lawyers’ and administration blocks. Terrace pumps had also been removed in the lawyers’ block,” an official said.
DFS further pointed out that the sprinkler system needed to be extended in the lawyers’ and administration blocks. Hoses and branches were missing from some hose boxes, while hose-reel lengths needed to be extended to 30 metres so they could cover entire floors.
The report also directed that smoke-exhaust systems be kept in auto mode and interlinked with the manual-operated electric fire alarm (MOEFA) system and detectors. Damaged or leaking ducts were to be repaired or replaced. Pressurisation systems provided in shafts were found non-functional and were required to be put on auto mode.
The inspection also found that a sprinkler nozzle in the seventh-floor conference hall needed to be extended below the false ceiling. The public-address and manual call-point systems were functional, but the fire service noted that they “cannot be operated as the proceeding of the court is” in progress.
The July 31 letter, addressed to the chairman of the Disaster Management Committee, Dwarka District Courts, said the building had been inspected again on July 14 to assess compliance with deficiencies pointed out in March. Since these had not been fully rectified, the department said renewal of the fire safety certificate could not be considered.
At Karkardooma Courts, a fire safety audit conducted on July 18 found 12 shortcomings across Blocks A, C, I, D, E, F, G and H. The inspection was carried out in the presence of PWD officials.
The fire service said an additional first-aid hose reel was required in the judges’ chambers corridor, while no smoke-management system or fire-check doors had been provided in the basement. An alternate exit was also found obstructed.
“The staircase serving the basement was not segregated on the ground floor, while the MOEFA system provided at the complex was found non-functional. The basement also lacked a firefighting system and combustible material was found stored there,” the official added.
The inspection further found that an overhead tank with a capacity of 20,000 litres was damaged. A 900-lpm terrace pump had been provided but was non-functional, while exit signage had not been installed in the building. The fire service also noted that fire-safety installation work was under way in Blocks D, E, F, G and H but had not been completed at the time of inspection.
The findings have been communicated to the court authorities, with directions to rectify the deficiencies before the fire safety clearance can be considered, the official said.
When asked about the matter, court officials said that the Public Works Department (PWD) is responsible for the maintenance of the premises.
Meanwhile, a PWD official said, “Routine maintenance exercise is carried out. However any deficiencies will be looked into and rectified at the earliest.”