About 10 years after a student of Gnanambikai Government Arts College for Women in Mayiladuthurai fell to death on the campus, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Monday (November 17, 2025) recommended that the Tamil Nadu government pay a compensation of ₹3 lakh to her legal heirs. The Commission had taken suo motu cognisance of a report in The Hindu dated October 14, 2015.
According to the report, 19-year-old Ramya, along with her friend Shanmugapriya, had gone to the terrace of the college. Unaware of their presence, the watchman had locked the doors. Growing anxious, they had attempted to climb down using a dupatta. In their attempt, Ramya had lost her balance and fell.
She had been taken to the Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital and then to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, where she had died. The police had registered a case.
The Commission called for reports from the Director of Collegiate Education, Nagapattinam Superintendent of Police, and the Principal, Gnanambikai Government Arts College for Women. Considering the fatal incident and the circumstances that led to it, the Commission said there was “clear negligence” on the part of the college authorities, as well as the Director of Collegiate Education, which amounted to a violation of human rights of the victim.
Observing it was a case of accidental fall and death, the Commission said it needed to be considered whether the circumstances leading to the death occurred due to the negligent act of the deceased or by the college authorities. “No inquiry was conducted into whether the watchman or the authorities had checked the terrace area or other places regarding the presence of any students,” the Commission said.
The Commission felt that the attitude of the respondent officers and the way they had submitted the report showed “they are not serious in the death of a young girl.” It further pointed out no inquiry was conducted over the death, and no compensation was awarded. It termed as “negligent” the act of the college authorities, including the watchman and the Director of Collegiate Education, who had “no interest to receive compensation from the concerned authority for the death of the student and hand over the same to the legal heirs.”
It further held that the college authorities, as well as the Director of Collegiate Education, had violated the human rights of the deceased, and so, the legal heirs of the deceased were entitled to get compensation. Citing the judgment in the D.K. Basu Vs. State of West Bengal case, it said: “So this Commission is of the considered opinion that the legal heirs of the deceased are entitled to receive compensation and fixing of ₹3 lakh as compensation to them would be fair and reasonable and would meet the ends of justice.”
Published – November 17, 2025 02:18 pm IST
