Kerala High Court Issues Notice On Plea By Deceased Student's Father Seeking Action Against Classmates Over Alleged Abetment To Suicide

A Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. admitted the writ appeal and issued notice to the respondents.

The appeal was preferred against the Single Bench's judgment dated 23-09-2025 in the WP(C) No. 30520/2025 (filed by the respondents) directing the nursing college to immediately to issue to the respondents their Course, Conduct and Transfer Certificates noting that they have already completed the course.

The respondents are arrayed as the accused persons in Crime No. 1582/2024 of Pathanamthitta Police Station for allegedly committing the offences under Section 108 [Abetment of suicide], Section 3(5) [Common intention] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

According to the appellant, his daughter passed away on November 15, 2024 allegedly due to the harassment of the respondents, subjecting her to false accusations of theft, social ostracization, public humiliation, mental cruelty, etc. This made the deceased's life in the hostel and college unbearable, pushing her towards the drastic step of taking her life.

The respondent students were placed under suspension and their certificates were withheld by the college authorities. The college also refused to forward their applications for registration with the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council. It is challenging this that they had preferred the writ petition.

The appellant contended that the principal of the college had taken the decision to withhold the applications and certificates since disciplinary proceedings initiated against the respondents were pending and since the police investigation in the serious offence was ongoing.

Supporting the principal's decision, the appellant has contended that the Single Bench's decision must be interfered since it had failed to appreciate the actual facts and circumstances for the withholding of the certificates. As an interim prayer, a stay of operation of the judgment is also prayed for.

On Tuesday (October 14), the Division Bench had allowed the appellant's application for preferring third-party appeal.

The petition is moved by Advocates Raghul Sudheesh, J. Lakshmi, Ambily T. Venu, and Rachel Mary Jacob.

Case No: WA No. 2488/2025 in WP(C) No. 30520/2025

Case Title: Sajeev T. v. Aleena Dileep and Ors.

Click to Read/Download Judgment in WP(C) No. 30520/2025

Click to Read/Download Order dated 14.10.2025