UGC panel holds KIIT University accountable for student suicides; recommends criminal action against officials

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, has been held accountable for the suicide of two students earlier this year. A fact-finding committee set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) found that the university engaged in “unlawful and illegal activity” and said its actions amounted to criminal liability in at least one of the cases, according to its report submitted to the commission.

The panel, headed by Nageshwar Rao, submitted its findings on May 20, 2025, following visits to the KIIT campus and interactions with students, faculty, and other stakeholders. According to a report by The Times of India , the UGC report flagged serious shortcomings in the university’s handling of sexual harassment complaints, hostel conditions, student welfare, and overall governance.

According to a report by TOI , the UGC is considering a freeze on KIIT University's expansion and departmental action against officials named in the report, based on the recommendations made by the UGC fact-finding committee .

Harassment complaints ignored

One of the key concerns flagged by the committee was the university’s failure to act within the law on sexual harassment complaints. In one case, the student had approached the administration twice, but no formal inquiry was held, and the issue was instead steered towards an “illegal compromise,” the panel found.

The panel observed that the university had the authority to take action against the accused student but chose to shield him instead, a decision that ultimately contributed to the student’s suicide . The report also described the university’s hostel infrastructure as inadequate, with three students being made to share small rooms.

As per the TOI report, the committee observed that Nepalese students were forcibly removed from campus without proper support, and that security staff used physical force on students in violation of protocol.

Suicide linked to inaction on harassment

On February 16, Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year Bachelor of Technology (BTech) student from Nepal, was found dead in her hostel room. Another Nepalese undergraduate was found dead under similar circumstances on May 2. Both incidents took place inside the university campus. The report linked the February case directly to the administration’s failure to act on harassment complaints and called the suicide “avoidable.”

According to a report by TOI, the panel criticised the university’s approach, saying it prioritised its public image over legal obligations and international sensitivities. It held members of the internal complaints committee (ICC) and senior administrative staff accountable, stating that their conduct made them “liable for criminal punishment under the law.” It also called for disciplinary action against those who had violated university rules and failed to follow due process.