JNU PhD Student Death: JNUSU accuses university of 'criminal negligence'; administration rejects charge

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Wednesday alleged that a student was not given timely treatment at the university's health centre which led to his death, a charge denied by the university. The university said the student was given proper treatment and there was no lapse on their part.

Mayank, a PhD student at the Centre for Russian Studies and a resident of Tapti Hostel, died on Wednesday. The student is expected to have died of cardiac arrest, according to a university official.

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In a statement, JNUSU convenor Adarsh Kumar said Mayank had complained of chest pain in the evening on March 21 and was rushed to the health centre by his friends. "He was not given immediate treatment and precious time was lost. The health centre also delayed referring him to AIIMS, as a result of which Mayank passed away even before reaching the hospital," Kumar alleged. "JNU VC Santishree Dhulipadi Pandit, UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar and the dilapidated health centre are responsible for criminal negligence leading to the death of our friend, Mayank," he added.

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Rejecting the allegations, Dean of Students at JNU, Sudheer Pratap Singh, said the student was given proper treatment and was taken care of. "The student came to the JNU doctor complaining of chest pain. He was rushed to the hospital after his ECG came out to be abnormal. Prima facie, it appears it was a cardiac arrest. We are trying to determine what happened but there were no lapses on our part," he said.