Now Reading: Kerala HC pulls up State for not suspending cop in Dalit student suicide case
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Kerala HC pulls up State for not suspending cop in Dalit student suicide case
Kerala HC pulls up State for not suspending cop in Dalit student suicide case
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday rebuked the state government for not suspending a police officer found negligent in the arrest of Dr M Kodanda Ram, the prime accused in the suicide…
The Story in Brief
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday rebuked the state government for not suspending a police officer found negligent in the arrest of Dr M Kodanda Ram, the prime accused in the suicide of Dalit student Nithin Raj. Justice A Badharudeen orally questioned why DSP Kallan had not been suspended despite a preliminary report finding serious procedural lapses that led to Dr Ram’s initial release by a trial court. Raj, a dental college student, died by suicide on April 10 after allegedly facing caste-based harassment from faculty. The police arrested Dr Ram under the SC/ST Act, but his arrest was declared illegal as mandatory grounds were not furnished. The Crime Branch later re-arrested him. The government pleader said disciplinary proceedings would begin only after a proposed panel enquiry, drawing the court’s ire. The judge asked whether senior officials were trying to protect the DSP and directed the state to act without waiting for judicial orders.
The Indian Opinion
The High Court’s pointed question exposes a familiar game of delay: wait for another enquiry, then another. Meanwhile, a Dalit student’s family waits for accountability. The narrative that the State is being too harsh on its own officers is hollow when initial mistakes let the accused walk free. The real test will be whether the government suspends DSP Kallan within a week, or lets the file gather dust again.
Source: barandbench.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
