Now Reading: IIT Delhi sets up probe panel after M.Sc student’s death
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IIT Delhi sets up probe panel after M.Sc student’s death
IIT Delhi has formed an external inquiry committee to investigate the death of M.Sc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar. Student protesters have rejected the panel, calling it a routine measure that does not…
IIT Delhi has formed an external inquiry committee to investigate the death of M.Sc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar. Student protesters have rejected the panel, calling it a routine measure that does not address underlying campus problems. They have also questioned the counselling system, alleging that genuine distress is sometimes dismissed with basic advice like “just go rest”.
The committee is headed by former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar and includes AIIMS psychiatry head Professor Pratap Sharma and two student representatives. It must submit its report in two weeks. The institute has also announced financial support for Kumar's family and plans to appoint an external ombudsperson and a faculty mentoring system. However, the administration has not addressed the students' demand for the resignation of the Dean of Student Affairs.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Student suicides at IITs have drawn recurring scrutiny. Since 2018, at least 20 students have died by suicide across the IIT system, prompting multiple committees and helpline expansions. In this case, the institute's response, an external panel, an ombudsperson and a mentoring system, mirrors the structural measures previous committees recommended. The core unresolved issue is whether institutional processes can detect and respond to distress before a crisis. Students' rejection of the panel suggests they see the problem rooted in academic pressure and rigid administration, not in a lack of protocols. The protest continues, and the committee's two-week deadline will test whether the administration can bridge that trust gap.
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
