IIT KGP Student Death Case| ‘Ragging Can Adversely Impact Intellectual Growth, Well-Being & Development Of Nation’: Calcutta HC

The bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha also said that the Director of the institute shall be personally responsible to ensure that appropriate counseling, sessions, starting at the ground level, are put in place at the IIT.

Underscoring that IIT, Kharagpur is a premier institute in the country imparting education in, inter alia, technology and science, the Court observed that a large number of students with superior intellectual abilities, from different economic and social backgrounds and different emotional quotients, come here and in most cases, they may not at all able to freely interact and mix with students coming from other backgrounds, which impacts their behavioral patterns, sometimes restricting free expression and interaction.

The order was passed by the bench while dealing with a Plea moved by the father of a student (Faizan Ahmed) hailing from Assam's Tinsukia whose body was reportedly found in a hostel room of the Institute on October 14.

In its order, the Court expressed its concern about the well-being of the students seeking special high-level scientific and technical education in the country and said that the incidence of any form of ‘ragging’ makes things only worse for such students.

The Court further added that the Director of the institute ought to have been aware of the adverse effect of ragging over the wellbeing of a student.

“It (ragging) can scar the victim students psychologically for varying periods of time. In some cases, it remains for long years in the psyche of the student and in some others permanently. This can have devastating effect on the present and future, personal and working, lives of the students. The intellectual growth, well-being and development of society and the nation can be therefore be adversely impacted as a consequence of this menace called “Ragging”,” the Court remarked.

Further, regarding the unnatural death of the student, the Counsel for the IIT informed the Court that a fact-finding committee conducted an inquiry into the matter, the cope of which was not only confined to the incident in question but also aimed at ascertaining whether the rules and regulations of the IIT are in harmony with the guidelines of the Supreme Court.

Taking note of the same, the Court requested the Advocate General of the State to assist in the instant matter.

The Court also directed the petitioner and the IIT, Kharagpur to supply all the pleadings and reports, and orders in the matter to the Advocate General by Tuesday (24.01.2023).

With this, the matter was posted for further hearing on 6th February 2023 as “Specially Fixed” to ascertain the status of the investigation by the State Police.

“On the adjourned date the case diary shall be produced and this Court shall be apprised either in the form of a report in writing or orally as to the status of the investigation. The compliance of the aforesaid directions by the IIT Kharagpur shall be considered on 13th February 2023 when the matter is again listed,” the Court further observed.

Case title – Salim Ahmed & Anr. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Case Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Cal) 13

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