HC judge recuses self from hearing Amity suicide case

NEW DELHI: A judge of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday recused himself from hearing a case of alleged suicide of an Amity University law student last year on the ground that someone in his family was studying in the varsity.

Justice GS Sistani, before whom the matter was listed, said he was recusing himself and that the matter be heard by another bench.

A bench of Justices GS Sistani and Vinod Goel had earlier expressed concern over the alleged suicide, saying it appeared that there was a communication gap between the student and the people close to him.

It had said that it could not be “believed that a 20-year-old boy ends his precious life, just because he was allegedly not allowed to sit for his semester exam, due to shortfall in attendance”.

Sushant Rohilla, a third year law student, allegedly hanged himself at his home in Delhi in August last year after the university apparently barred him from sitting for his semester exams because he did not have the requisite attendance.

He left behind a note saying he was a “failure and did not wish to live”.

The Supreme Court had on September 5, 2016 taken cognisance of a letter written by a friend of the deceased student, saying it would examine whether there was an “element of suspicion” that the incident could have taken place due to “harassment”.

However, on March 6, the apex court had transferred the matter to the Delhi High Court to decide it on merit.