Government orders NIT Kurukshetra to carry out reforms

New Delhi: Following a high-level review, the education ministry on Tuesday ordered corrective measures to improve campus management and student welfare at NIT Kurukshetra even as senior professor Brahmjit Singh was appointed as officiating director while director BV Ramana Reddy’s resignation was accepted.The development comes against the backdrop of four student suicides on campus in the past two months, including three in April. The death of a 20-year-old second-year student on April 16 sparked protests, with students claiming negligence and demanding an investigation. After the riots, authorities suspended academic activities and asked students to move out of their dormitories, but some students have been asked to return to their dormitories from May 9.The review, chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, examined the academic environment, campus life and hostel management, proposing urgent measures to enhance student engagement, teacher accountability and overall institutional culture. Immediate measures include dormitory upgrades, structured faculty training on mentoring and student well-being, and standard operating procedures to institutionalize student engagement.In a related move, the institute has suspended joint registrar Gyana Ranjan Samantaray after a central team visited the campus. The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken action seeking reports from the agency and district authorities.Officials said the leadership change follows the Union Education Ministry’s decision to revoke Reddy’s administrative and financial powers.