NLU Delhi scraps mid-semester exams after student’s suicide on campus

NEW DELHI: After the suicide of a third-year BA LLB student on the campus of National Law University (NLU) Delhi on September 4, the institute’s academic committee for 2024-25 has scrapped the mid-semester examination, according to an email accessed by Careers360. The email was shared with students on September 5, a day after the student’s death.

Previously, NLU Delhi’s students had raised the issue of immense stress, especially among third-year students. “Majority of third-year students from BA LLB have previously failed the examinations and third year is distressing for students due to difficult subjects. The student council has been demanding relaxations in attendance and examination requirements to make it easier for students to pass,” said a student from the campus.

The deceased student was also a scholar supported by the Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access (IDIA), a non profit organisation working for the marginalised and underprivileged communities across India, particularly on drawing them toward legal studies. “She was a bright student and had participated in many movements on campus, especially related to gender rights. But the rumours of her death being related to these movements are incorrect. There is no one reason for her death. But yes systems in the institute have failed us,” said another student from NLU Delhi. In a post on professional networking platform LinkedIn, NLU Delhi said: “This is to inform all concerned that post September 4th tragic incident, it is noticed that there are a number of rumours being spread on social media platforms and news items. One such news is a media report about an alleged death of an NLU Delhi student in Laxmi Nagar. This was duly verified and found completely fake.”

For now, the classes are being held online for a week. Students across the campus are in distress after this news, he added. This was the second death of a NLU student in a week; on August 31, a student of Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU) in Lucknow passed away in her hostel room.

NLU Delhi move to scrap exams

A larger student community from the campus has maintained that the student did not take this step just because of academic pressure.

“For now the curriculum has been diluted because the third years are not in the same headspace,” a fourth year student stated.

Further, while announcing the scrapping of the mid-semester exams, the academic committee also floated a form asking for suggestions on alternatives. The email says: “Please note that the nature and scope of the activities will be determined later by the UGC [University Grants Commission] in consultation with the Academic Committee, the subject teachers and other authorities, with suggestions from the student body. The Academic Committee will do their best to ensure a structured formula for the moderation policy, to be formulated with the help of the student body via a public consultation.”

Careers360 reached out to NLU Delhi’s registrar and vice-chancellor for comments but no response has been received till the time this report was published.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.