HYDERABAD: Student safety must remain the top priority for junior college managements, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner AV Ranganath and Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (TG BIE) Secretary Abhilasha Abhinav said at a joint meeting with college managements over forged fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
The meeting was held against the backdrop of HYDRAA filing cases over forged fire NOCs and the Intermediate Board initiating action against colleges that submitted such documents.
Officials told managements not to compromise student safety because of fake NOCs. They advised colleges to take immediate measures to ensure students and teaching staff can safely evacuate buildings during a fire or other emergency.
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Colleges urged to address evacuation and building safety
Ranganath and Abhinav said neither department intended to harass college managements in the name of forged fire NOCs. They also sought details of difficulties faced by the managements and examined the reasons behind the submission of fake certificates.
Ranganath said college managements had requested that fire NOCs be renewed once every two years instead of annually. HYDRAA would consider the request, he said.
He also advised colleges to provide a second staircase wherever required to facilitate evacuation. For older buildings that do not meet the requirement, managements were advised to explore alternative safety measures.
HYDRAA Additional Director Varla Papayya explained the applicable fire safety regulations at the meeting. Intermediate Board Joint Secretary Vasundhara also briefed the participants on the issues discussed.
Online applications introduced for fire NOC services
Ranganath advised college managements to apply for fire NOCs and renewals through the HYDRAA online portal. He warned them against approaching brokers or falling victim to scams.
The online system covers submission of applications, approvals, renewal of existing permissions and payment of related fees. HYDRAA has also said it would examine proposals for issuing fire NOCs through agencies authorised by it.
Applicants within the Core Urban Region under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation jurisdictions have been advised to use the online process. Ranganath said there was no need to visit the HYDRAA office for the process.
On forged NOCs, Ranganath said an investigation was under way to identify those involved in preparing and submitting the documents. HYDRAA had earlier sought verification of fire NOCs submitted by junior colleges, leading to cases against institutions found to have used forged documents.
He also advised junior college managements to independently verify the authenticity of the fire NOCs in their possession.
Abhinav said the Board would reconsider the ₹8 lakh penalty imposed on colleges that had submitted fake fire NOCs. The Board had imposed ₹8 lakh fines on 45 private junior colleges in its recent action over forged fire NOCs submitted during the 2026-27 affiliation process.