Balasore sexual harassment case: UGC sets up panel to probe girl's self-immolation

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to look into the self-immolation of a 20-year-old BEd student on campus of a government-run college in Odisha's Balasore.

UGC secretary Sudeep Singh Jain said that the committee will examine "the circumstances surrounding the incident, assess compliance with regulatory provisions, and suggest measures to prevent such tragedies in the future". It will also look into institutional policies, grievance redressal mechanisms , anti-harassment measures , and student support systems at the college.

The panel is headed by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University professor and UGC member Raj Kumar Mittal . Its other members are former UGC member Sushma Yadav, former Gujarat University vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta, and UGC joint secretary Ashima Mangla.

"The team will conduct an on-site assessment to verify the actual implementation of measures for safety and well-being of women students, beyond documented compliance," Jain added. It will also interact with students, faculty members, administrators and support staff to assess the institutional culture and challenges faced by students.