Now Reading: IIT Delhi forms suicide probe panel, students demand dean’s ouster
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IIT Delhi forms suicide probe panel, students demand dean’s ouster
IIT Delhi has set up an external inquiry committee to investigate the death of M.Sc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar, who died by suicide. Students protesting on campus have rejected the panel, calling…
IIT Delhi has set up an external inquiry committee to investigate the death of M.Sc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar, who died by suicide. Students protesting on campus have rejected the panel, calling it a routine measure that fails to address systemic issues. They are demanding the resignation of the Dean of Student Affairs, Associate Deans, and the Physics HOD.
The seven-member committee is headed by former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar and includes AIIMS psychiatrist Pratap Sharma and two student representatives. It has two weeks to submit its report. The institute has also announced financial assistance for Kumar's family and plans to appoint an external ombudsperson for student grievances.
According to the institute, Kumar joined the M.Sc programme in July 2025, developed mental health issues in March 2026, and was repeatedly advised parental supervision. His requests to withdraw from semesters were approved. The protest continues on campus with students demanding direct accountability from the administration.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Student suicides at IITs have recurred despite multiple review panels. Under the UGC (Prevention of Prohibition of Ragging and Curbing of Suicides by Students) Regulations 2019, every technical institute must have a standing mental health committee. The rejection of this panel suggests students view institutional probes as insufficient without leadership accountability. IIT Delhi's own internal 2023 taskforce had recommended anonymous counselling and faculty sensitisation, though implementation remains uneven across IITs. The next signal is whether the external ombudsperson, once appointed, is given binding powers or remains advisory.
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
