KIIT faces UGC heat: Bar on expansion, threat to deemed university tag after suicide probe | India News
NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission on Monday issued a show cause notice to Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) (Deemed to be University) as to why “disciplinary or legal action should not be initiated against your institution,” which include “withdrawal of the status of institution deemed to be University,” barred “from any expansion … for a period of three years.” The show cause was issued in connection with suicide incident of two students that occurred on February 16, 2025, and May 1, 2025 and based on the findings and recommendations of the fact-finding committee constituted to investigate these suicide incidents. The Commission has stated that “you are hereby directed to show cause in writing within 7 (seven) days from the receipt of this notice, as to why disciplinary or legal action should not be initiated against your institution.”The TOI on Monday reported that the fact-finding committee has implicated KIIT in the suicides of two students, citing illegal activities and criminal liability. The report highlights failures in handling sexual harassment complaints, substandard hostel conditions, and excessive student intake. The UGC is considering freezing expansion and pursuing departmental action against responsible officials due to the university’s negligence.Observing that hat members of the internal complaints committee and senior administrative personnel of the university “are liable for criminal punishment as per law”, the report stated, “… university’s internal complaints committee (ICC) failed to take lawful action in reported sexual harassment cases. There was no transparency that protocols for investigation were followed. The girl had made complaints to the administration twice much before this tragic incident. In both the complaints, they decided to go for illegal compromise… The university has the power to punish the boy even when the first complaint was lodged. Instead of punishment, they favoured the boy by pushing forced illegal compromise with the girl…This suicide case could have been averted.”The notice stated that the said incident has raised serious concerns regarding the mental health support system, safety protocols, and administrative response mechanisms prevailing in your institution.As per the notice failure to respond within the stipulated time “may compel this office to proceed with appropriate actions, including but not limited to disciplinary proceedings.”Stating that the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness given its sensitive and tragic nature, the notice said: “the institution deemed to be University shall be warned in writing with public notice or barred from any expansion in terms of diversification to new courses or programmes of study or departments and establishment of off-campuses or off-shore campuses, for a period of three years or as recommended by the enquiry committee, whichever is higher,” and “closure of the courses or programmes of study or Departments and off campuses or constituent institutions or off-shore campuses or may result in withdrawal of the status of institution deemed to be University”.
