The Regional Directorate of Education in Bhubaneswar has instructed all government, aided, unaided, and professional colleges under its purview to establish Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) immediately. This directive, relayed by the Odisha government’s Higher Education Department, mandates the submission of compliance reports within seven days. Dr. Saroj Laxmi Singh, the Regional Director of RDE, issued a letter on April 10, directing institutions to align their ICC formation with government guidelines for addressing student and staff complaints.
The colleges that have already set up the committee are required to submit the necessary documentation within the specified timeframe. Emphasizing strict adherence, the directive warns of potential consequences for non-compliance, such as admission restrictions for the academic session of 2026–27 or other appropriate actions as necessary. Notably, in 2025, the Higher Education Department had urged vice-chancellors and college principals to ensure rigorous adherence to ICC norms, including disclosing committee members’ details and conducting workshops on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act.
This latest directive stems from a tragic incident in July 2025 when a 20-year-old student from FM College, Balasore, attempted self-immolation due to alleged harassment by college faculty. The student later passed away from burn injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, sparking widespread public outcry.
