IIT Delhi Students Demand Independent Probe Into MSc Student’s Death, ₹1 Crore Compensation For Family
New Delhi: Classes at IIT Delhi were cancelled on Monday after students staged a protest demanding an independent investigation into the death of 31-year-old MSc Physics student Rishikesh. The students have also called for accountability from senior institute officials and ₹1 crore in compensation for his family.
The protest has brought renewed attention to concerns around student welfare, administrative processes and mental health support on the campus.
Students demanded the resignation of the Dean and Associate Deans for Student Welfare and Hostel Management, along with the Head of the Department of Physics. They also urged the institute to examine whether issues such as academic project rejections, accommodation difficulties and inadequate support systems contributed to the distress faced by Rishikesh.
In a communication issued to students and faculty, the Deputy Registrar announced that all classes scheduled for August 24, 2026, had been cancelled due to “unavoidable circumstances”.
In their letter to the administration, students strongly criticised what they described as the treatment of Rishikesh by the Student Affairs Office. They argued that judging or labelling students on the basis of their personal or mental health circumstances should have no place in an educational institution and said such practices could affect access to essential resources and opportunities.
The students said they did not want the campus to simply return to normal immediately after the death. They called for classes to be suspended so that the institute could pause and seriously examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Students Seek Answers And Accountability
The protesters have demanded an independent investigation into alleged administrative lapses and called for officials found responsible to be held accountable.
They have specifically asked the institute to examine concerns surrounding housing allocation, access to academic projects and the support provided by campus medical and counselling services. According to the students, such issues can become particularly difficult for students already dealing with pressure in a highly competitive academic environment.
Another major demand is greater transparency around IIT Delhi’s mental health support system.
Students want the institute to clearly explain how cases involving students experiencing mental distress are handled, what role is played by Student Counselling Services and senior officials, and what safeguards are in place for students seeking help.
They have also raised concerns about the number of student deaths by suicide reported on the campus in recent years, describing the pattern as a possible indication of a wider systemic issue. They have asked the administration to publicly explain what measures have been implemented to improve student mental well-being and whether recommendations from the Expert Committee Report on Students’ Mental Well-being on Campus are being followed.
₹1 Crore Compensation Demanded
As part of their demands, students have called for ₹1 crore in compensation for Rishikesh’s family, saying the family should receive meaningful and compassionate support.
They have also asked IIT Delhi to assure students that no disciplinary action will be taken against those participating in protests over his death.
The protest has placed the spotlight on a difficult question facing educational institutions across the country: how to ensure that academic pressure, administrative systems and personal struggles do not leave students feeling isolated when they most need support.
The students are now seeking a formal response from the institute on their demands and greater transparency about the steps being taken to strengthen mental health and student welfare on campus.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
