Dharamsala student death: UGC takes congnisance of case, constitutes probe committee
The student’s health reportedly worsened in the months following the alleged incidents, eventually leading to her death.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken note of the death of a student at Government Degree College, Dharamsala, and ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
The higher education regulator said it has registered a suo motu complaint through its Anti-Ragging Helpline after media reports suggested the student may have died by suicide following harassment linked to ragging.
The case involves a 19-year-old second-year student who died on December 26 while receiving treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana. Her family has alleged that she faced sustained harassment on campus, which severely affected her physical and mental health. A police inquiry is already underway. In a statement, the UGC said it has set up a fact-finding committee to look into the circumstances surrounding her death.
The committee will examine the sequence of events, check whether anti-ragging measures and grievance redressal systems were properly followed by the college, and identify any institutional lapses. It is expected to submit recommendations to fix responsibility and prevent such incidents in the future.
Reiterating that student safety is its top priority, the UGC said strict action will be taken against those found guilty and warned institutions that failure to enforce anti-ragging norms will invite strong regulatory action.
According to the FIR, three senior students — Harshita, Aakriti and Komolika — allegedly assaulted and threatened the victim on September 18. A video recovered from the student’s mobile phone, recorded during her treatment, shows her describing repeated harassment. In the video, she also named a college professor, Ashok Kumar, accusing him of inappropriate behaviour. The video is considered a key piece of evidence in the investigation.
The student’s health reportedly worsened in the months following the alleged incidents, eventually leading to her death. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009. The three students have been charged with ragging and voluntarily causing hurt, while the professor has been booked for sexual assault. Further investigation is ongoing.
The UGC has once again stressed that all higher education institutions must strictly implement anti-ragging rules and ensure a safe and secure environment for students.