New Delhi – The University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the death of a student at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, Odisha.
The student died on July 14 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, two days after allegedly attempting suicide. She had accused a college teacher, Samir Sahu, of sexual harassment and claimed that her complaints were ignored. Initially admitted to Balasore district hospital, she was later referred to AIIMS for advanced treatment.
Following the incident, the teacher was arrested. Protests broke out across the region, with opposition parties holding the ruling BJP in the state accountable. The college principal, Dillip Kumar Ghosh, has also been arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody.
UGC Committee Members and Mandate
The committee, announced on Tuesday, is headed by UGC member Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Other members include:
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Sushma Yadav, former UGC member
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Dr. Neerja Gupta, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University
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Dr. Ashima Mangla, UGC Joint Secretary (coordinating officer)
The panel has been asked to submit a detailed report with findings and recommendations within seven days.
The UGC’s move comes amid increasing public outrage and demands for institutional accountability in handling sexual harassment complaints in higher education institutions.
