Medical Student's Death: Telangana High Court Seeks Report On Anti-Ragging Measures Enforced In Educational Institutions

The Telangana High Court has ordered the State to file an affidavit stating the measures taken to curb ragging in school and college premises throughout the State in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court.

The Division Bench of Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar passed the order in a Public interest litigation that was taken up by the Court following an incident of caste-based ragging and death of a 1st-year student from Kakatiya Medical College (KMC).

“Learned Government Pleader for Medical, Health and Family Welfare shall state on affidavit, whether the aforesaid Guidelines (as laid down in Vishwa Jagriti Mission v/s. Central Government) are being adhered to by the authorities in the State of Telangana.”

Dr. Dharavath Preethi was a first-year student in the MD Anaesthesia course and had joined the college in November 2022. She belonged to the Schedule Tribe community and was continuously harassed due to the same by her classmate Saif.

The deceased student raised the issue before the Head of Department and the local Police, but no action was taken. The father of the deceased student also complained to the police but to no avail.

It was alleged that Saif started to begrudge her even more and Saif along with other students on the night of 21.02.2023 injected her with poison. The deceased was shifted to two hospitals, but despite best and continuous efforts could not be saved and was pronounced dead only 5 days later.

The petitioner M. Malliah, the President of Telangana State Schedule Tribe Employee Welfare Association had approached the praying that the Court may direct police authorities to register an FIR against all persons involved, conduct a transparent investigation, and award just compensation and punishment.

The Court has also directed the authorities to submit a report regarding the action taken against the delinquents.

“Learned Government Pleader for Home shall also apprise this Court with regard to the action taken by the Commissioner of Police against the delinquents.”

The reports are to be submitted within 2 weeks, after which the matter is to be listed again.

Case Title: M. Malliah vs. State of Telangana.

Counsel for Respondent: GP for general Administration.

Click Here To Read/Download Order