Jharkhand High Court orders BIT Mesra to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation in Dalit student’s death case, directing safety SOPs for all colleges to ensure campus security and student protection.
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RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court, on August 13, 2025, directed the Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) at Mesra to pay an interim compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the parents of Raja Paswan, a third-semester diploma student who was brutally assaulted and later died in November 2024.
The Court, presided over by Justice Sanjay Prasad, condemned the BIT Mesra administration’s conduct, calling it “gross negligence and an inhuman approach”.
Background of the Case
On November 14, 2024, Raja Paswan called his father, reporting caste-based abuse and threats from fellow students. Shortly after, BIT officials informed the family that Raja was vomiting and unconscious. The family rushed to the hostel, took him home that night, and admitted him to RIMS Hospital the next morning.
Raja succumbed to injuries sustained from two brutal assaults, one inside the campus by fellow students and another outside the boundary wall by a mob of outsiders. The assaults were linked to caste-based harassment, with witnesses confirming repeated slurs like “Dalit” and “Harijan” and instances of forced humiliation.
A post-mortem report revealed multiple abrasions, contusions, and a ligature mark, with doctors concluding that death was due to combined head injury and asphyxia caused by pressure on the neck and chest.
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Court’s Observations
The High Court found that BIT Mesra:
- Concealed facts from Raja’s parents, falsely claiming he had consumed alcohol instead of disclosing the assaults.
- Failed to provide immediate medical care by not ensuring timely admission to a reputable hospital.
- Allowed outsiders onto campus due to an incomplete boundary wall, compromising student safety.
- Operated with inactive CCTV cameras and inadequate night-time security.
Justice Prasad stressed that Article 21 of the Constitution, the right to life, imposes a constitutional duty on educational institutions to safeguard students. The Court held both BIT Mesra and the State authorities accountable for systemic lapses.
Court Directives
Beyond the immediate case, the Court issued sweeping safety guidelines for all government and private colleges in Jharkhand:
- Tie-ups with reputed hospitals for emergencies.
- On-campus medical facilities with both male and female doctors.
- Adequate security personnel and functional CCTV systems.
- Grievance redressal cells and online complaint portals.
- Student monitors to assist in safety oversight.
- A standard operating procedure (SOP) for student safety and movement.
The Court directed the Principal Secretary, Higher Technical Education, and the Director General of Police to prepare and implement a comprehensive SOP covering engineering, medical, and technical institutes across the state.
The order also dealt with bail applications filed by four accused, Mausam Kumar Singh, Abhishek Kumar, Sahil Ansari, and Irfan Ansari, all of whom were implicated by eyewitnesses and their confessional statements. The Court rejected all bail pleas, citing the severity of the offence and the weight of evidence.
Appearance:
For the State: Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan and Additional Public Prosecutor Rajesh Kumar
For BIT Mesra: Advocate Srijit Choudhary
Case Title:
Mausam Kumar Singh & Ors v State of Jharkhand & Ors
Cr. Appeal (SJ) No. 149 of 2025
READ ORDER HERE
