NHRC Orders On-the-Spot Inquiry Into Intermediate Student’s Death

Hyderabad:Citing allegations of systemic lapses in private residential junior colleges, the National Human Rights Commission has ordered its Director-General, investigations, to conduct an inquiry into the death of a first-year Intermediate student in Hyderabad. The student, from Mahbubnagar district, was residing at the Sri Chaitanya Junior College hostel in Bachupally, Hyderabad.

The commission issued the directions based on a complaint placed before it on December 18. According to the commission’s law division, the case was registered following a complaint dated December 14. The complaint alleged that the student’s death was not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of deaths in private residential junior colleges across Telangana.

Complainant Sabavath Kalyan, a law student, argued that such deaths were linked to excessive academic pressure, mental harassment, absence of counselling and emotional support systems, poor hostel management, and negligence by college authorities. The complaint stated that these conditions amounted to violations of students’ right to life and dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The commission directed its Director General, investigations, to depute a team to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry into the matter and submit its findings within two weeks.

The commission has sought urgent intervention to fix accountability, direct government authorities to ensure compliance with mental health and safety norms in residential educational institutions, and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The commission’s deputy registrar, law. has forwarded a copy of the complaint to the authorities concerned for appropriate action and has asked for an action taken report to be submitted within two weeks. The commission will hear the case upon submission of the inquiry report and the action taken details.

Separately, petitioner Sabavath Kalyan told Deccan Chronicle that he had gathered information on deaths of students deaths within the Bachupally police limits, involving private junior colleges. According to him, a 17-year-old intermediate student had died by suicide on the same day, December 14. Protests had followed their death, with allegations of academic pressure.

Kalyan referred to a February 2025 case in which a second-year Intermediate student died by suicide in her hostel room within the Bachupally police limits. Her parents alleged negligence and questioned the circumstances, saying the college had initially claimed she had slipped in the bathroom.

He also mentioned a November 2024 case where a 17-year-old intermediate student was found dead in his hostel room at a Sri Chaitanya College branch. Police recovered a suicide note citing personal and family issues.

In October 2024 when a first-year Intermediate student died by suicide at a Narayana College hostel, following which family members and student groups alleged harassment by college management, Kalyan said.