The Kerala High Court has admitted a writ appeal filed by the father of a nursing student, Ammu Sajeev, who tragically died by suicide. The petition contends that her death was precipitated by alleged harassment from three classmates, now respondents in the criminal case. The Division Bench of Justices Anil K. Narendran and Muralee Krishna S. issued notices to these respondents after admitting the appeal, which challenges a prior judgment by a Single Bench directing that the respondents be issued their Course, Conduct, and Transfer Certificates, taking into account that they had completed the course.
According to the appeal, Ammu passed away on November 15, 2024, after enduring a course of harassment that included false allegations of theft, social ostracism, public humiliation, and mental cruelty. Her father claims these conduct made her life in the hostel and college intolerable and pushed her to take her life. The criminal case against the respondents has been registered in Pathanamthitta Police Station as Crime No. 1582 of 2024, invoking Sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and Section 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, as well as Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The respondents had approached the High Court via a writ petition seeking orders compelling the college to issue their certificates. That petition succeeded before a Single Bench on September 23, 2025, which deemed that since the respondents had completed their course, they were entitled to such certificates. It is against that ruling that the father’s appeal is directed. He argues that withholding the certificates and refusing to forward their registration applications before the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council was justified given that disciplinary proceedings and the police investigation were ongoing.
In its order admitting the appeal, the Division Bench has stayed operation of certain parts of the Single Bench judgment and issued notices to the respondents to respond to the challenge. The appeal is numbered WA No. 2488 of 2025 in WP(C) No. 30520 of 2025. The father has asked that the decision ordering release of the certificates not take effect until the outcome of the appeal, on grounds that it would interfere with the investigation and accountability in the criminal matter.
The case presents complex tensions between an accused students’ right to complete their education and receive certification, and the lawful exercise of disciplinary and criminal processes arising from serious allegations of harassment and abetment to suicide. The Kerala High Court’s decision to entertain the appeal means that the college and respondents must respond to the allegations of misconduct and the resultant implications before any certificates are issued. The matter now moves to further hearings to determine whether the earlier Single Bench order must be modified, stayed, or vacated in light of the serious criminal allegations and the petitioner’s plea for justice in respect of his daughter’s death.
0 Comments
Thank you for your response. It will help us to improve in the future.