Now Reading: IIT Delhi forms probe panel after M.Sc student death, students reject it
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IIT Delhi forms probe panel after M.Sc student death, students reject it
IIT Delhi forms probe panel after M.Sc student death, students reject it
IIT Delhi has formed an external inquiry committee after M.Sc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar died, but protesting students have rejected the panel as a routine measure that fails to address systemic problems.…
IIT Delhi has formed an external inquiry committee after M.Sc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar died, but protesting students have rejected the panel as a routine measure that fails to address systemic problems. Students are demanding the resignation of the Dean of Student Affairs, Associate Deans, and the Physics Head of Department. The protest continues on campus.
Rishikesh, 24, joined IIT Delhi in July 2025. He developed mental health issues in March 2026, was advised to stay under parental supervision, and withdrew from two semesters. He returned to campus in July 2026 but was again advised parental supervision. The committee, headed by former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar and including an AIIMS psychiatrist and two student representatives, must report in two weeks.
IIT Delhi has announced financial support for the family, including medical expense reimbursement and funds from its benevolent fund and voluntary contributions. The institute also plans to appoint an external ombudsperson and introduce a faculty-student mentoring system for students needing parental support.
Indian Opinion Analysis
IIT Delhi has reported at least nine student deaths since 2019, according to data compiled by student bodies. The institute's response has followed a pattern: an inquiry committee, financial aid, and promises of reform. Students now reject this cycle as performative. The demand for the Dean's resignation signals a loss of faith in the current administration to address systemic mental health failures. The external committee, headed by a former police chief rather than a mental health expert, may deepen that distrust. Under the UGC's 2023 guidelines, all central universities must establish student grievance redressal mechanisms within six months. IIT Delhi's proposed ombudsperson finally meets that requirement, but the timeline for appointing one remains unannounced.
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
