The Supreme Court of India on Monday dismissed a pre-arrest bail plea filed by a private dental college professor in Kerala who faces charges of abetting the suicide of a first-year student.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta declined to intervene in a June 2026 Kerala High Court ruling that had previously rejected the professor’s application for anticipatory bail. The apex court emphasized the critical responsibility of educators, noting that a clear message must be sent that such behavior toward students is unacceptable.
Impact Of Classroom Humiliation
The prosecution alleges that the accused, M Kondanda Ram, insulted and intimidated the victim, Nithin Raj, inside the classroom in front of his peers. Raj, a first-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery student and a member of the Scheduled Caste community, was found dead on April 10 after falling from a campus building in an apparent suicide.
Ram has denied the allegations. However, during the hearing, the Supreme Court justices highlighted the severe psychological impact of public humiliation on students, questioning what the ultimate effect would be when a student is subjected to such treatment in front of classmates.
High Court Decision Upheld
In dismissing the petition, the bench stated that teachers must realize the consequences of their actions on their students and ruled that an educator cannot escape accountability for this type of conduct.
By refusing to interfere with the high court’s decision, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for the ongoing investigation to proceed without shielding the accused from potential custody.
