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IIT Delhi formed a five-member committee to investigate the death of an MSc student
IIT Delhi has formed a five-member External Inquiry Committee to investigate the death of MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar. The institute took this step two days after student protests on campus. Around 300 students had demonstrated on the campus demanding an independent inquiry into the student’s death.
The committee formed by the institute will now investigate the circumstances under which Rishikesh Kumar died. The committee has been asked to submit its report within two weeks. The purpose of the investigation is to understand the facts surrounding the incident and review the institution’s existing procedures.
Information about the formation of the committee was given in an email sent to the students by IIT Delhi Director Ranjan Banerjee. It said that during the investigation, relevant records related to students, teachers and administration will also be reviewed.
The committee also includes a former Director General of Police (DGP) and a senior expert from AIIMS.
The five-member committee includes people from diverse fields. The committee also includes former Uttarakhand DGP and IIT Delhi alumnus Ashok Kumar. Professor Pratap Sharma, head of the Psychiatry Department at AIIMS New Delhi, is also a member.
Two student representatives have also been given place in the committee. The Registrar of IIT Delhi will serve as the Secretary and Convenor of the Committee. In this way, an attempt has been made to include administration, student representation and external expertise in the committee.
The purpose of forming the committee is said to be to give a comprehensive perspective to the investigation of the case. During the investigation, an attempt will be made to understand the sequence of events based on a review of available documents and related records.
Nearly 300 students protested demanding an independent investigation.
Hrishikesh Kumar’s death sparked concern and discontent among students on the IIT Delhi campus. Around 300 students protested on the campus and demanded an independent investigation into the matter.
The students demanded that all aspects related to the death be investigated impartially and the circumstances behind the incident be clarified. Following the protest, the institute decided to form an inquiry committee comprising external members.
The committee will now review the questions raised by the students and the available records. After the report comes, it will become clear which aspects were given special attention in the investigation and what suggestions were given for the future.
Directed to submit report within two weeks
IIT Delhi has directed the committee to complete its investigation and submit its report within two weeks. The committee will have to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident as well as review the relevant records and procedures of the institution.
The committee’s report is expected to contain the findings of the investigation along with necessary recommendations. The scope of work of the committee has been clarified in the message sent to the students by the Director of the Institute.
The deadline to prepare the report in a short time is also important because the student community wants clear answers in the matter. After the committee’s investigation is completed, the institute will have the option to take further action based on the report.
Records related to students, teachers, and administration will be reviewed.
The investigation committee will not be limited to the immediate causes of the incident. He is also responsible for overseeing relevant records related to students, faculty and administration.
Apart from this, the protocols and processes implemented in the institute will also be reviewed. This means the Committee can also look at how institutional rules and procedures relating to such situations were implemented.
The committee will prepare its recommendations after reviewing the records and procedures. This could help in looking at the investigation at an institutional level as well, rather than limiting it to just one aspect of the incident.
A committee with external members is expected to conduct an impartial investigation.
The committee includes experienced individuals from outside IIT Delhi. The presence of former DGP Ashok Kumar and senior AIIMS expert Professor Pratap Sharma provides an opportunity to use different expertise in the investigation.
By including two student representatives in the committee, the students’ perspective will also be included in the investigation process. At the same time, the role of the Registrar will be related to coordination between the institute and the committee.
However, the actual role of the committee and the findings of the investigation will become clear only after its report is released. At present, the institute has given the responsibility to the committee to complete the investigation within the stipulated time frame.
The committee’s report now focuses the attention of students and the institute.
With the formation of IIT Delhi’s five-member External Inquiry Committee into the death of Rishikesh Kumar, the investigation process will now formally move forward. The committee will review the circumstances of the incident as well as related records, institutional procedures and protocols.
This committee, formed after the protest by about 300 students, is expected to provide answers to the questions raised on campus. Amidst the demand of students for an independent investigation, the inclusion of external members is also being considered an important part of the investigation process.
The committee has to submit its report in two weeks. All eyes will now be on this report, which may include findings related to the incident as well as further recommendations for the institution.
