The Education Ministry has constituted a three-member committee to examine the circumstances and issues behind the death of Aditya Kumar, a first year student at Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Ranchi.
The committee will be headed and chaired by Prof. Rajni Abbi, Director, South Campus, University of Delhi, along with Dr Jitendra Nagpal, senior psychiatrist and Heera Lal Poonia, deputy secretary, Department of Higher Education as Members have been constituted. Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Ranchi is a Public Private Partnership Institute.
The Ministry in the order said that the incident necessitates a closer examination of the implementation of its 2023 framework guidelines for emotional and mental well-being of students in higher education.
“The committee has been mandated to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and assess the implementation of the guidelines, with particular reference to the availability and functioning of basic facilities, institutional support systems, counselling and mentoring arrangements, and student grievance redressal mechanisms. It will identify any systemic gaps and recommend appropriate measures to strengthen student well-being and help prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The committee shall interact with stakeholders and examine relevant records and documents as required,” said an official statement from the Ministry.
Aditya, from Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, was found dead in his hostel room on October 10. The friends then took him to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
His death resulted in massive protests by the students who demanded the resignation of Rajeev Srivastava, the director and concerns were raised over inadequate power supply, food quality and infrastructural gaps which include medical facilities. Students in the campus also alleged that Aditya was not taken to the hospital in time.
Khelgaon Police Station in-charge Nirbhay Kumar told the media that preliminary investigation suggested that he died owing to examination pressure.
The committee will also review the existing arrangements relating to students grievances and their effective resolution and to identify gaps.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had only taken cognizance of the death of a first-year student at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Ranchi.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said on X, “The commission would examine the alleged delay in medical treatment, administrative negligence and the circumstances surrounding the reported suicide.”