5 days ago
IIT Delhi Students Continue Protest, Seek Wider Inquiry Into Death
Students at IIT Delhi are protesting after MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar allegedly died by suicide.
The institute changed its outside inquiry panel and appointed retired judge Justice Mukta Gupta to lead it.
Students welcomed the appointment but want the panel to investigate more than general campus procedures.
They want it to examine claims made by Kumar’s mother about hostel accommodation and alleged humiliation.
Students are also asking the institute to hold responsible officials accountable.
They want compensation for Kumar’s mother and greater openness about mental-health services.
IIT Delhi says it already provides counselling, psychiatric support, mentoring and grievance systems.
Protesters say these services do not always feel easy to access or helpful when students need them.
IIT Delhi reconstituted its external inquiry panel, appointing retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Mukta Gupta to lead it.
Students continued protesting after the panel was changed, saying its mandate should include allegations made by Rishikesh Kumar’s mother.
Kumar’s mother told police that he was denied hostel accommodation and humiliated by the college’s dean.
Protesters are seeking accountability, including action against the Associate Dean (Student Welfare), compensation for Kumar’s mother and disclosure of mental-health protocols.
IIT Delhi said it has multiple student-support measures, while protesters questioned whether those systems are accessible and responsive.
- Who
- IIT Delhi students, the institute administration, Rishikesh Kumar’s mother and an external inquiry panel led by Justice Mukta Gupta.
- What
- Students are continuing a campus protest and demanding a wider inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Kumar’s alleged suicide.
- Where
- On the IIT Delhi campus.
- When
- The protest began on Monday; the panel was reconstituted late Wednesday, and IIT Delhi issued a statement on Thursday, five days after Kumar’s alleged suicide.
- Why
- Students want the inquiry to examine allegations about hostel accommodation and alleged humiliation, assess accountability, and address wider concerns about student welfare and mental-health support.
Students and protesters
IIT Delhi administration
Scope of the inquiry
Students and protesters
Students want the panel to investigate the allegations made by Kumar’s mother, including alleged insensitive conduct and whether named individuals should be held accountable.
IIT Delhi administration
The initially announced panel was tasked with speaking to students, faculty and administrative offices, reviewing protocols and processes, and submitting a report within two weeks; IIT Delhi later reconstituted it under Justice Mukta Gupta.
Administrative accountability
Students and protesters
Students are demanding action against officials they consider incompetent and object to the administration’s refusal to accept the Associate Dean (Student Welfare)’s resignation.
IIT Delhi administration
Students said IIT Director told them that there could not be a resignation, while the administration’s statement emphasized existing student-welfare measures rather than announcing such a resignation.
Mental-health support
Students and protesters
Protesters say support systems can be inaccessible or unresponsive and are collecting testimonials about alleged insensitive remarks by officials, faculty and staff.
IIT Delhi administration
IIT Delhi said student well-being is fundamental and cited 24/7 counselling and psychiatric support, reimbursed external care, emergency protocols, buddy programmes, mentorship and grievance mechanisms.
Key facts
- Student
- Rishikesh Kumar, an MSc Physics student at IIT Delhi
- Inquiry chair
- Retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Mukta Gupta
- Panel change
- IIT Delhi reconstituted the external inquiry panel late Wednesday
- Protest growth
- The gathering began with six students and later grew to thousands
- Student demand
- A wider mandate covering allegations made by Kumar’s mother and possible accountability
- Additional demands
- Rs 1-crore compensation for Kumar’s mother, disclosure of mental-health protocols and broader service changes
- Institute response
- IIT Delhi cited counselling, psychiatric support, mentoring, academic flexibility and grievance-redressal mechanisms
Quotes
An unnamed student at the forefront of the protest
A student helping organise the IIT Delhi protest
“We were disturbed and disappointed when IIT Director explicitly told us that there cannot be any resignation. This complete denial has hurt the student community. We just want administration action against someone incompetent.”
indianexpress.com
“Some professors were very receptive. Some didn’t take it very well.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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