Reports indicate a troubling pattern of incidents: a first-year B.Tech student recently attempted suicide by jumping from a hostel’s fifth floor but was rescued and hospitalized; earlier, on April 16, a second-year student was found dead in his room, sparking protests over alleged administrative delays; and two additional student deaths in February and March 2026, along with another incident on April 8 at prestigious NIT, point to recurring cases.
NIT Kurukshetra
The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of reports that National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra tells students to leave hostels. Taking serious note of the matter, the Commission has initiated a detailed inquiry into the alarming incidents reported at the NIT, Kurukshetra.
According to the report and preliminary information received by the Commission, multiple incidents of student suicides and attempts have occurred within a short span, raising grave concerns regarding student safety, mental well-being, and institutional accountability.
It has been reported that a first-year student recently attempted suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of a hostel building but was rescued in time and hospitalized. Earlier, on April 16, a second-year student was found dead in his hostel room, leading to protests by fellow students alleging delayed response by the administration. Additionally, two more student deaths were reported in February and March 2026, followed by another incident on April 8, 2026, indicating a disturbing pattern of recurring cases.
The Full Commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and Members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, has expressed serious concern that despite successive incidents, the action taken by the institute appears limited, including the transfer of two professors. The fresh suicide attempt on April 18, 2026 further indicates that the measures taken so far are neither adequate nor effective.
The Commission has observed that the situation points towards possible deficiencies in mental health support systems, counselling services, monitoring mechanisms, and crisis intervention protocols within the institution.
Emphasizing the responsibility of educational institutions, the Commission stated that their duty extends beyond academic instruction to ensuring the physical and mental well-being of students. The recurrence of such incidents prima facie reflects a failure in fulfilling these obligations and raises concerns under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to life, dignity, and mental well-being.
The Commission has also noted that the matter engages India’s international human rights commitments, particularly under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), including: Article 3: Right to life, liberty, and security of person and Article 26: Right to education that promotes full development of human personality
Reports Sought from Authorities
In view of the seriousness of the matter, the Full Commission headed by Justice Lalit Batra has sought detailed reports from theDirector, NIT, Kurukshetra directing him to submit a detailed report at least one week prior to the next date of hearing. The HHRC has asked for detailed report indicating the circumstances leading to the death of four students and the attempted suicide by one student in quick succession; availability, accessibility and functioning of mental health counselling services within the institute and mechanisms in place for identification of students under stress or financial distress.
