The Supreme Court declined to grant anticipatory bail to Dr. M. Kodanda Ram, a professor at Kannur Dental College, who was accused of verbally harassing Dalit student Nithin Raj, leading to the student’s suicide in April. The Court emphasized the importance of teachers’ behavior towards students, stating that educators cannot mistreat students. Dr. Ram’s plea for pre-arrest protection was rejected by the Kerala High Court, prompting the Supreme Court’s decision.
Senior advocate D.S. Naidu, representing Dr. Ram, argued that the alleged incident of humiliation occurred before the student’s death but was not the direct cause of the suicide. He highlighted a separate incident involving a loan taken by Nithin Raj without permission, which he claimed was more relevant. Naidu defended Dr. Ram, stating that there were no allegations of caste-related remarks and that disciplining students should not lead to legal action against teachers.
The Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath questioned the professor’s conduct, expressing concerns about the impact of public humiliation on students. The Court emphasized the need for teachers to understand the consequences of their actions and the psychological effects of such behavior on students. Rejecting the plea, the Court stressed that educators must be held accountable for their behavior towards students.
