Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 19 (PTI) The revised Kerala Budget 2026-27 on Friday introduced an app and proposed a law to prevent ragging in educational institutions to honour 20-year-old veterinary student J S Sidharthan, who allegedly died by suicide in his college hostel in Wayanad two years ago after being ragged by fellow students.
“To prevent ragging in educational institutions in Kerala, the ‘Sidharthan Student Distress App’ will be introduced, and the ‘Sidharthan Anti-Ragging and Student Welfare Act’ will be enacted to prevent ragging and ensure student welfare,” Chief Minister V D Satheesan said in his Budget speech in the Assembly.
Sidharthan, a first year student of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Pookkode in Wayanad was found hanging in his college hostel’s bathroom on February 18, 2024.
His death had sparked widespread outrage and a major political storm in the state as the student’s family alleged that CPI(M) activists were involved in ragging him.
Following the political uproar, the then LDF government handed over the probe to the CBI as demanded by the student’s family.
The Congress-led UDF had accused the Left government in Kerala and the police of trying to save those responsible for the death of the student by delaying the transfer of the case to the CBI.
Similar allegations were made by the BJP and Sidharthan’s family as well. PTI HMP KH
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