Ragging & death of Sidharthan: Govt moves Kerala HC against NHRC's order for compensation
Kochi: The state govt has filed a petition in high court challenging the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) order which directed it to pay a compensation of Rs 7 lakh to the parents of J S Sidharthan, a second-year BVSc student at the Pookode campus of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, who allegedly died by suicide following brutal ragging.
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The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji adjourned the matter to June 30 for a detailed hearing. The NHRC had issued the direction on Oct 1, 2024, based on a petition filed by Sandeep Vachaspathi, spokesperson of the BJP in Kerala. In his petition, Vachaspathi requested an investigation into the incident and action against the students involved, as well as against the dean of the college.
Sidharthan was found hanging in the bathroom of the college hostel on Feb 18, 2024.
Nineteen students were arrested in connection with the incident, and the investigation was later handed over to CBI. The CBI chargesheet revealed that Sidharthan had been stripped, assaulted and subjected to a public trial in the men's hostel courtyard. He was allegedly harassed continuously for two days before his death.
The NHRC had forwarded the complaint to the Wayanad district collector for appropriate action. On May 10, 2024, the commission issued a show cause notice to the chief secretary, asking why compensation of Rs 7 lakh should not be recommended to the victim's parents. Although the state filed a reply, the NHRC found that the suicide occurred within the hostel premises and concluded that there was negligence on the part of the hostel authorities.
Consequently, it directed the govt to pay compensation, prompting the state to move HC. The govt contended that the order issued by the NHRC lacks statutory authority and that the proceedings are illegal.
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