NHRC holds KIIT University responsible for Nepali girl student’s death; seeks action report in 4 weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has held KIIT University responsible for the tragic death of a Nepali student, citing negligence by the university authorities. The NHRC has also directed Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja to submit an action taken report within four weeks.

An NHRC team investigated the incident that left Odisha red-faced, between March 6 and 8. Their findings indicate that the university's International Relations Officer (IRO), disciplinary committee, and administration failed to ensure the safety of students, leading to the unfortunate incident.

The NHRC report states that the university authorities were indifferent to student safety and had forcibly removed students from the campus instead of addressing their concerns.

KIIT University Death Case: NHRC Findings

“It is evident that the conduct of the IRO and University officers/disciplinary committee and college authorities sufficient to show that there is gross negligence and omission on their part IRO and University authorities which may treated amount to act of abetment to commit suicide on the part of the university officials, which finally resulted in her suicide,” the NHRC mentioned in its report. 

“The university officials have admitted the fact that almost 1000-1100 students had left their hostel on 17 February 2025 whereas almost 180 girl students left the hostel in such a hast which may lead to some other untoward incident, but college authorities did not bothered safety of girl students and they were thrown out from campus. Regrettably, the University was unrepentant and even had the audacity to reply that there had been no merit in the allegations. This manifests sheer insensitivity, if not downright arrogance,” the report read further.

NHRC Notice To Odisha Chief Secretary And Others

Further, the NHRC instructed the Police Commissioner to report on the progress of the investigation. Additionally, the Chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has been asked to take appropriate action for violations of guidelines and submit a report within four weeks.

The Commission has directed the Chief Secretary to submit an action-taken report on the matter.

“The Collector & District Magistrate, Khordha District, Odisha, is directed to submit an action taken report. The report should also submit clarification on non-compliance of recommendation/observations dated 06.07.2017 of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Khordha. The CWC had recommended and requested the Collector, Khordha for the formation of a Joint Inquiry Committee to investigate the issue of poor living conditions at KISS,” it read.

The NHRC report further read: 

The Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate, Odisha, is directed to submit updated investigation report of Infocity PS FIR No. 0054, dated 16/02/2025, u/s 108 BNS.

Let the Chairman, UGC, New Delhi, consider initiating requisite action against the KIIT University and KISS for violation of its guidelines as discussed in paras 22-25 above and submit action taken report.
Let the Chairman, NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) examine the matter in view of above concerns and observations of the Commission, as referred in paras 26-30 above and submit action taken report.

What NHRC Member Says

NHRC member Priyank Kanungo alleged that despite prior complaints from the deceased student, KIIT University authorities attempted to suppress the matter. The investigation revealed severe insensitivity from the university, as around 180 students were evicted from their hostels. The NHRC has now directed immediate action based on the investigation findings, he said.

“When the victim informed the KIIT University official about the matter, she was subjected to sexual harassment, and her private videos were filmed, instead of reporting the matter before the police, the university authorities tried to suppress the matter and this has led to the student’s suicide. This is a gross violation of law,” Kanungo added.