Student death in Dharamsala prompts UGC inquiry into harassment allegations

The University Grants Commission has set up a fact-finding committee to probe the death of a student at a government college in Dharamsala, signaling regulatory scrutiny over allegations of harassment and institutional failure.

The action follows the death of a 19-year-old second-year student of Government Degree College, Dharamsala, who died on Dec 26 while undergoing treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana.

Her family has alleged that sustained harassment on campus took a serious toll on her physical and mental health, eventually leading to her death.

In a statement, the UGC said the committee will reconstruct the sequence of events, examine whether anti-ragging measures and grievance redressal systems were properly enforced, and identify any lapses at the institutional level.

The panel has been asked to submit recommendations focused on accountability and preventing similar incidents in the future.

The higher education regulator said strict action would be taken against those found responsible, underlining that student safety and well-being remain a top priority.

According to the FIR, the student was allegedly assaulted and intimidated on Sept 18 by three senior students identified as Harshita, Aakriti, and Komolika.

Investigators have recovered a video from the student’s phone, recorded during her treatment, in which she described repeated instances of harassment and named a college professor, Ashok Kumar, accusing him of inappropriate conduct.

Her health reportedly declined in the months following these incidents. The video is now a key piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Based on the complaint, police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009.

The three senior students have been charged with ragging and voluntarily causing hurt, while the professor has been booked on charges of sexual assault. Further investigation is continuing.

The UGC reiterated that all higher education institutions must strictly enforce anti-ragging regulations and ensure a safe campus environment, warning that any failure to comply will attract stringent regulatory action.