The Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Ranchi is at the center of controversy following a student’s death in its hostel recently. On Tuesday, marking the third consecutive day of protests by students at the IIIT Ranchi campus, the Ministry of Education announced the formation of a three-member committee to investigate the incident thoroughly.
Committee Formation and Leadership
The Ministry of Education has taken cognizance of the student’s death and constituted a three-member committee to examine the circumstances and various aspects related to the case. Leading this committee will be Professor Rajni Abbi, the director of Delhi University South Campus. Alongside her, a senior psychiatrist and a senior official from the Ministry of Education will serve as members.
IIIT Ranchi operates under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, which adds complexity to the investigation as the committee evaluates institutional functioning and governance related to the incident.
Objectives and Mandate of the Committee
The committee’s responsibility includes investigating the details of the event and assessing the implementation of existing guidelines at the institution. Their review will focus on the availability and functioning of basic facilities, institutional support systems, counseling and guidance services, and mechanisms for addressing student grievances. Identifying any systemic shortcomings, the committee aims to recommend suitable measures to strengthen student welfare and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The committee will consult with relevant stakeholders and examine pertinent records and documents as necessary during its inquiry.
Meanwhile, student protests continue to intensify with demands for accountability. Students are protesting the administration’s alleged negligence in ensuring the availability of basic amenities and their failure to act on grievances raised beforehand. Their primary demand is the removal of the IIIT Ranchi director.
Protesters have displayed banners and posters calling for the director’s resignation, emphasizing administrative lapses that they believe contributed to the tragic incident.
Details of the Incident
The deceased student, Aditya Kumar, was a first-year Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) undergraduate at IIIT Ranchi. His death, believed to be a suicide, happened inside his hostel room over the weekend. According to his peers, Aditya was found unresponsive after his roommate struggled to open the locked door following multiple attempts.
Efforts were made to rush him to the hospital, but the campus lacked necessary medical facilities. Students have also cited several issues at the time of the incident, including a power outage, a non-functional hostel elevator, and delays in securing emergency transportation, all of which hampered timely medical intervention.
