A Class 10 student at St Columba’s School in central Delhi, Shourya Patil unfortunately passed away by suicide on November 18, triggering shock across the capital city.
This unforeseen step has raised several alarming questions about student safety and mental-health support in schools. The 16-year-old boy jumped from the elevated Rajendra Place Metro station, leaving behind a handwritten note in his bag in which he accused his teachers and the headmistress of persistent harassment.
Following the incident, the school administration suspended three teachers and a headmistress after an official order by principal Robert Fernandes cited the “seriousness of the allegations” and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR). Meanwhile, the Delhi government has set up a five-member high-level committee to investigate the matter. The panel, led by Joint Director Harshit Jain, has been asked to submit its findings within three days.
FIR Registered Under Sections of Abetment to Suicide
According to police officials, an FIR was filed under sections 107 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5) (common intent) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. The case was registered after the boy’s note, as well as statements from students and family members, indicated that he had allegedly faced ongoing mental harassment by certain staff members.
Police teams recovered the suicide note from the boy’s schoolbag while recording evidence from the metro station. In the one-and-a-half-page note, the teenager wrote about being “consistently mistreated” and “bullied” by his teachers and headmistress.
Family Alleges Months of Harassment and Ignored Warning Signs
The boy’s father said his son had been troubled for months. He recalled that the teenager had complained about the teachers soon after he entered Class 10. In fact, he had reassured the boy just a day before the tragedy that he would shift him to another school after the board exams.
- The father further claimed that the staff had repeatedly threatened the student with expulsion, adding additional pressure on him. About three months ago, he too was summoned to the school over what he described as a ‘minor issue’.
“They told me he talks in class. I said, if kids his age don’t talk, who will? I also told them not to stress him about marks, as we were already satisfied with his academic performance,” he said.
Classmates Confirm Bullying; Counsellor Allegedly Dismissed His Cry for Help
The tragedy has also brought attention to several troubling allegations regarding the school environment.
A classmate confirmed that the boy had been bullied by teachers, supporting the claims made in his handwritten note. Other students said that parents were frequently called for trivial matters. “They call parents even if someone spills water in the class. Teachers use abusive language and dismiss students openly,” one student alleged.
Even more disturbing are claims that the boy did try to seek help. According to his friends, he had confided his suicidal thoughts to the school counsellor, but the counsellor allegedly dismissed his concerns. “His friends told us that he had spoken to the counsellor, but she ignored it,” the student’s uncle said.
The father revealed that although the teen discussed his troubles with peers, he never openly shared suicidal thoughts with his family. “We had no idea he was suffering silently,” he said.
CCTV Footage Shows Boy Helping a Woman Moments Before Death
- Investigators are examining the CCTV footage from both the school and the metro station. A senior police officer said statements of several students have already been recorded, with more to follow.
- The CCTV from Rajendra Place Metro station in Delhi shows a heartbreaking moment: just minutes before his death, the boy was seen guiding a woman standing on the platform – an act that reflected the kindness his friends say defined him.
High-Level Probe and School Response
As public shock and anger grow, the Directorate of Education’s probe committee will investigate the allegations of harassment, the school’s disciplinary practices, and whether there were systemic failures in addressing the teenager’s mental-health concerns.
The school administration, in its official order, stated that the suspension of the four staff members was necessary because of the FIR and the “gravity of accusations.” Authorities have assured a thorough investigation to ensure accountability in this regard.
The demise of Shourya Patil, a young bright mind, shows how the Indian education system has become extremely rigid in its emphasis on academic performance and the need for adopting a strong mechanism that promotes mental peace and a conducive environment at all times.
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