Agin was not interested in pursuing computer science and engineering: NIT Calicut director

NEW DELHI : Days after the Lovely Professional University (LPU) student Agin S Dileep died by suicide and allegedly accused the director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut, where he studied BTech earlier, for abetment, the professor Prasad Krishna has said that Agin was not interested in pursuing computer science and engineering and could not clear his backlog courses. Protests erupted in LPU and later NIT Calicut following the student’s death.

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In a statement shared by the institute, Krishna said that the institute gave as many chances as per the rule to Agin to complete his backlog courses but he could not clear them and was ineligible to continue the course. The professor stated that Agin informed about his passion to pursue design and the institute suggested that he follow his dream.

Earlier, Phagwara police registered a case against the NIT Calicut director . Additional DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said the case was registered on the basis of a complaint by the victim's father and the suicide note left behind by him.

NIT Calicut director’s statement:

At the outset, I would like to express my deep sense of grief at the unfortunate demise of Mr Agin S Dileep, a former BTech student of NIT Calicut who was studying at Lovely Professional University, Punjab. On behalf of faculty staff and students of NIT Calicut and on my personal behalf, I extend our deep condolences to the parents and family members of Agin. May his soul be guided towards the correct destination.

Agin took admission for the BTech programme in computer science and engineering in NIT Calicut in the year 2018. Even after study of four years at NIT Calicut, he could not successfully complete the first year courses. The institute had given three more chances for him to clear the backlog courses of the first year. Unfortunately, even at the end of his four years of study at NIT Calicut until June 2022 he could not complete 10 courses from the first and second year of the programme. The entire courses of the third and fourth year were also remaining. Under these circumstances, as per the institute academic regulations, he had no choice but to discontinue his BTech studies in NIT Calicut.

Subsequently, Agin submitted a request to his department of computer science for permission to continue the programme. The department consultative committee of CSE decided not to recommend his request as he was not eligible to continue the programme as per the academic regulations. The minutes of the meeting were later forwarded to the Dean, Academic.

After that, Agin met me in my office to discuss the issue. At that time, two more faculty members were also present in my office. I have briefed him about the BTech regulations by which he has already utilised the maximum possible number of chances for clearing the first year and second year courses. At that time, Agin told me that he was actually interested in doing a different education programme on design and not interested in pursuing computer science and engineering programme. I have honestly advised him to pursue his passion if he wishes so. The conversation was extremely cordial as witnessed by our other two faculty colleagues.

Later on another occasion, Agin had met his faculty advisor along with his father. The faculty advisor also appraised them of the institute regulations and his ineligibility to continue the programme as per the Senate rules. Agin’s father got convinced about it and informed of his plan to get his son admitted to another programme of his choice. Agin and his father met also in my office. I have reiterated the institute regulations to them and his ineligibility to continue the current programme. I told his father to facilitate him to pursue his real passion. Both of them left my office convinced about the situation. Later, we were not aware of where he had joined.

It was only through the media reports yesterday that I came to know about the tragic demise of Agin while he was pursuing a Design programme at LPU.