Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday recommended the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to initiate requisite action against the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and its sister concern Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in connection with the alleged suicide of a Nepali female student on February 16.
The commission has instructed the chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to investigate KIIT University’s alleged violations of UGC guidelines and human rights, including anti-ragging policies and the Internal Complaint Committee for workplace sexual harassment. The chairman has been asked to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) to the commission.
“The KIIT University and KISS have both been unable to comply the law and failed to provide safety and security to their students. Why should these aspects not to be considered by the NAAC in its accreditation process? This is an extremely relevant question,” read the Commission’s order.
“While accrediting institutions, the NAAC should also check compliance with UGC Regulations, guidelines, particularly those relating to Human Rights like, anti-ragging measures, Internal Complaint Committee for sexual harassment at workplace, affirmative and non-discriminatory measures for disabled, etc”, mentioned the NHRC order.
Additionally, the commission has directed the Chief Secretary of Odisha to submit an ATR regarding the negligence of KIIT University authorities, which led to the suicide of a Nepali student and violations of the victim’s constitutional rights.
That apart, the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate, has been directed to submit an updated investigation report on the suicide case of a girl registered at the Infocity police station.
Notably, the victim, a Nepali student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, had faced harassment by her named ex-boyfriend, Advik Srivastava, and that the university’s International Relations Office (IRO) had neglected her complaints, contributing to her tragic suicide. Protests by Nepali students seeking justice were met with verbal abuse, threats, and physical assault by KIIT officials and security guards.
The Commission in its report also revealed that “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.”
