IIT Delhi constitutes external panel to probe student’s ‘suicide’; stir on campus continues

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The stir by students at the institute entered its second day on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

IIT Delhi has constituted a seven-member external committee to probe the circumstances leading to the death of the 31-year-old MSc student, the institute Director, Rangan Banerjee, stated in an e-mail addressed to all students on Tuesday.

IIT Delhi constitutes external panel to probe student’s death; stir on campus continues

The death of the student, allegedly by suicide on the campus on August 22, has sparked uproar among several student bodies. Students at the institute have been protesting since Monday against “systemic issues”, which they claim have led to the deaths of eight students by suicide over the past 30 months.

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On Tuesday, they submitted a collective note to the administration, demanding that the deceased’s family be paid ₹1 crore in compensation.

Later in the day, Aam Aadmi Party chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Cockroach Janta Party issued statements, expressing solidarity with the protesting students.

The external panel will comprise former Uttarakhand police chief Ashok Kumar, AIIMS Delhi Psychiatry Department head Professor Pratap Sharma, four student representatives and the institute’s Registrar. Mr. Banerjee said the committee will hold talks with students, faculty members and officials concerned and review existing protocols and processes, adding that it will be requested to complete its report within two weeks.

The IIT Director said the institute would provide financial support to the family of the deceased, though he did not specify the amount. As per the e-mail, the student, who had a good academic record, developed mental health issues in March and was advised to stay under “continuous parental supervision”, following which he moved off campus with his parents. When he returned in July after a break, his medical records were checked and he was again advised to stay under parental supervision.

Students objected to the inclusion of Mr. Kumar in the panel, citing his purported comments on recent youth-led agitations, linking the protesters with “radicalisation”. They also condemned the administration’s view that students with mental health issues need parental support.

“As students, they need access to peers, fair academic opportunities, and a supportive, empathetic campus. Without a clear undertaking on the aforementioned points, an additional support system of a faculty and student mentor seems like a band-aid solution in a broken system,” read the note submitted by the IIT Delhi students.

The students added that “disparaging comments” had been made by faculty members against the protesting students and asked that no action be taken against students protesting peacefully.

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