Dalit student suicide: HRD ministry to set up judicial panel

After the two-member HRD team suggested lack of sensitivity shown in some areas by Hyderabad University authorities in dealing with events which led to suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula, the ministry today decided to set up a judicial commission that would look into the matter.
Five days after he committed suicide, HRD minister Smriti Irani spoke to the mother of Rohith today to convey her grief. Irani also apprised her of the steps taken in the matter, official sources said.
Based on the findings of the fact-finding team comprising HRD officials Shakila T Shamsu and Surat Singh, the Ministry has decided to constitute the judicial commission to review the sequence of events and the circumstances and to establish the facts and correctives in the context of the University, a ministry statement released here said.

The judicial commission will submit its report within 3 months.
It is learnt that the two member committee in its 10-11 page-long report submitted today has referred to areas where more sensitivity could have been displayed by the administration of the Hyderabad University.
According to sources, the team's report observed that there were areas where more sensitivity could have been displayed by Hyderabad University authorities to bridge the trust deficit to avoid unfortunate turn of events which led to the suicide.

The team has also observed the need for inclusion of socially, educationally and economically disadvantaged students as also recommended expeditious action on the grievances from these students.

Following these observations, the HRD Ministry said it has decided several steps including sensitising all VCs and senior administrators to reach out to the students from disadvantaged backgrounds in higher educational institutions comprehensively and to prevent any such incident in future.
All wardens, administrative staff and registrars would be compulsorily put through a orientation programme for which a special module will be prepared.
A special mechanism would be set up at the Ministry for receiving and taking expeditious action on the grievances from these students.
(REOPENS DEL 66)
An official said that it is likely that the HRD ministry may write to the Registrar of the High Court Judicature at Hyderabad regarding setting up of the Commission.