In a criminal special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court by Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, in regard to a judgment dated 12-08-2025 by the Jharkhand High Court, a Bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan granted two weeks to BIT, Mesra, for compliance with the directions of the High Court.
On 17-11-2024, the victim’s father submitted a complaint for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) alleging that on 14-11-2024, his son, a student of 3rd Semester at Polytechnic College, BIT, Mesra, asked him to arrive at campus immediately as some students had been abusing him in the name of Dalit/Harijan. He mentioned that after some time, the Vice Principal, Warden, informed him that his son was vomiting and that he had become unconscious.
Upon reaching the campus, the father saw that his son was unconscious and admitted him to RIMS Hospital, Ranchi, where he died while undergoing treatment. He mentioned that he had seen signs of assault by lathi, danda, and belt. The Jharkhand High Court took note of the statement of the Supervisor of Security, BIT Mesra, who mentioned that on 14-11-2024, a fresher’s party was organised and that the victim got involved in a scuffle with some students who had assaulted his friend when they started taunting the deceased and assaulted him by beating him and tearing his shirt.
Thereafter, the matter was resolved, and the victim’s roommate was taking him to the hostel when the deceased got a call because of which he went out of the college. He was followed by the security who saw that the victim, along with other students, was being assaulted. The college administration called for a meeting, but the victim had already lost consciousness by the time and was referred to RIMS, Ranchi.
The Jharkhand High Court found that the college administration had concealed facts and, instead of taking proper steps, had allowed the victim to go with his parents by falsely stating that he had consumed a large quantity of wine. While condemning the college administration’s approach, the High Court said that the administration’s negligence revealed that it did not take the student’s life seriously. Hence, the Jharkhand High Court directed BIT, Mesra, to pay an interim compensation of Rs. 20,00,000/- in addition to any compensation that the victim’s parents may claim in the future. The High Court had also framed certain guidelines to be adopted by government and private college authorities.
In the present petition, BIT, Mesra submitted that it would comply with the directions of the High Court by paying Rs. 20,00,000/- and requested some time to do so.
Thus, the Supreme Court granted two weeks to BIT, Mesra, to pay the interim compensation to the parents of the deceased student and listed the matter on 23-03-2026.
Appearances:
For Petitioner – M/s. Ksn & Co. (AOR), Mr. Indrajit Sinha, Ms. Priyanka Goswami, Ms. Anusuya Sadhu Sinha, Mr. Siddharth Naidu, Mr. Arpan Mishra, Ms. Neeharika Mazumdar, Mr. Saurabh Bharadwaj
For Respondents – None
