IIT-Delhi suspends classes as students demand probe into MSc student's death

Classes at IIT-Delhi were suspended for a day on Monday, August 24 as students protested following the death of a 31-year-old MSc Physics student, demanding an independent investigation into alleged administrative lapses and accountability from institute officials.

The student died on Saturday after allegedly falling from the sixth floor of a building on the IIT-Delhi campus. Police said no suicide note was found, while a mobile phone recovered from his pocket will be examined as part of the investigation. Prima facie, there were no injuries other than those caused by the fall, they said.

The protest at the institute's Lecture Hall Complex also brought wider concerns over student welfare to the fore. Students called for an examination of issues they said contribute to distress on campus, including difficulties in securing academic projects, housing problems, inadequate support systems and the need for greater transparency in mental-health protocols.

They demanded the resignation of senior officials, including the dean and associate deans of student affairs and the head of the physics department. Other demands included Rs 1 crore compensation for the student's family, protection from disciplinary action for protesters and a written response from the administration.

Police are obtaining the student's counselling records and other relevant information from IIT-Delhi as part of the probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.

IIT-Delhi Director Rangan Banerjee and senior faculty members later met the protesting students. The students said the administration had responded positively to some of their demands, though several issues remained unresolved.

Banerjee confirmed that he had held discussions with the students but declined to comment further.

The classes were suspended only for Monday, sources said.