Bhubaneswar: In response to nationwide outrage over the tragic death of a female student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, Odisha, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a high-level Fact-Finding Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and recommend preventive measures.
The decision comes amid growing concern over reports that the student, Soumyashree Bisi, allegedly died by suicide after facing harassment from a faculty member. The incident has triggered protests and demands for accountability across Odisha and beyond.
According to an official order issued by UGC Secretary Sudeep Singh Jain on July 15, the committee will be chaired by Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal, Member of the UGC and Professor at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi. The other members include Prof. Sushma Yadav, former UGC Commission Member; Dr. Neerja Gupta, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad; and Dr. Ashima Mangla, Joint Secretary, UGC, who will serve as the coordinating officer.
The committee has been tasked with conducting an on-site assessment of the college to examine institutional systems, policies, and safeguards in place to protect students, particularly women. It will engage with students, faculty, administrators, and support staff to evaluate the campus environment and probe the effectiveness of grievance redressal and anti-harassment mechanisms.
The panel will also assess Fakir Mohan College’s compliance with the UGC’s 2015 Regulations on the prevention and redressal of sexual harassment in higher educational institutions, with a specific focus on Regulation 3, which outlines the responsibilities of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in ensuring student safety and support.
Crucially, the committee has been directed to submit a detailed report with findings and recommendations within seven days from the date of the order.
The UGC move follows a wave of public outcry and increasing scrutiny of institutional accountability in student welfare. The outcome of the fact-finding exercise is likely to influence future policy interventions on campus safety and grievance redressal protocols across universities in India.
