The Civil Society Forum for Human Rights (CSFHR) has made an urgent appeal to the President of India seeking justice and systemic reform following the harrowing incident of self-immolation at FM College, Balasore, Odisha.
Groundxero | July 14, 2025
A second year student of Integrated BEd at Fakir Mohan College in Balasore, Odisha, Soumyashree Bisi is battling for her life after suffering 95 per cent burns in her self-immolation bid in protest against sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) and alleged institutional inaction on Saturday.
Her ordeal of sexual and mental harassment at the hands of an assistant professor of the college Samira Kumar Sahoo started six months back. Soumyashree reported her ordeal to the college principal and faculty members; wrote to officials in the Higher Education department and to local MP Pratap Sarangi, seeking help, according to The New Indian Express.
She created an account on X and wrote directly to the Odisha Chief Minister, Union Education Minister, state education minister and senior police officials, but her messages received no reply. On the morning of the incident, she went to meet the college principal, who told her that the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) had cleared the accused HoD. The principal then summoned the professor to his room and proposed mediation between them. Soumyashree left the room visibly upset and took the drastic step of self-immolation on college premises a few minutes later.
This extreme act of desperation reflects not only an individual tragedy but also a systemic breakdown in the institutional mechanisms meant to protect female students in higher educational institutions.
In light of this grave incident, CSFHR Bhubaneswar, in a memorandum to the President Droupadi Murmu, appealed her to order an independent, time-bound, and high-level investigation into the institutional failures of FM College, to ensure accountability of all individuals and authorities responsible for negligence, coercion, or dereliction of duty. President Droupadi Murmu on Monday met the family members of the girl student, who is undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
CSFHR urged the President to mandate a national review of the functioning of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in all higher educational institutions, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, to evaluate their compliance, accessibility, and sensitivity to student complaints.
CSFHR said that the incident must not be allowed to fade into silence, and it must become a turning point in the nation’s resolve to secure the dignity, safety, and rights of girls and women in educational spaces.
CSFHR’s memorandum to the President of India is given below.
MEMORANDUM
To
Her Excellency Smt. Droupadi Murmu,
The Hon’ble President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi – 110004
Subject: Urgent Appeal for Justice and Systemic Reform Following the Harrowing Incident at FM College, Balasore, Odisha
Respected Rashtrapati Ji,
We, the undersigned members of the Civil Society Forum for Human Rights, write to you with profound anguish and deep concern regarding a shocking and tragic incident that occurred at Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha. A young female student, Ms. Soumyashree Bisi, attempted self-immolation on college premises in protest against ongoing sexual harassment and alleged institutional inaction. She is currently battling for her life at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, with over 90% burn injuries.
According to credible reports, Ms. Bisi had filed a formal written complaint alleging sustained sexual and mental harassment by the Head of Department (HoD). However, instead of initiating timely and empathetic redressal, the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) failed to act decisively, leaving the student vulnerable and traumatized. This extreme act of desperation reflects not only an individual tragedy but also a systemic breakdown in the institutional mechanisms meant to protect students, especially under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and the UGC Regulations, 2015, governing the prevention of sexual harassment in higher educational institutions.
In light of this grave incident, we respectfully urge Your Excellency to kindly:
- Ensure that Ms. Soumyashree Bisi receives the best possible medical treatment and psycho-social support at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, with all expenses borne by the State and Union Governments.
2. Order an independent, time-bound, and high-level investigation into the institutional failures of FM College, Balasore, to ensure accountability of all individuals and authorities responsible for negligence, coercion, or dereliction of duty.
3. Ensure exemplary legal action against the perpetrator(s) under relevant criminal provisions, and initiate disciplinary and administrative proceedings against college officials who failed to uphold their legal and moral obligations.
4. Mandate a national review of the functioning of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in all higher educational institutions, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, to evaluate their compliance, accessibility, and sensitivity to student complaints.
5. Instruct the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to urgently develop and implement a national framework that includes:
- Creation of gender-sensitive, inclusive, and safe educational environments;
- Mandatory gender sensitisation and PoSH training for faculty, staff, and students;
- Provision for confidential complaint mechanisms, legal aid, and psychosocial counselling for survivors;
- Public disclosure of ICC constitution and annual compliance audits.
6. Call for a national audit of compliance with the PoSH Act, 2013 and UGC regulations across all public and private higher educational institutions, with specific focus on state-run colleges and non-metropolitan campuses.
This incident must not be allowed to fade into silence. It must become a turning point in the nation’s resolve to secure the dignity, safety, and rights of girls and women in educational spaces. As the first tribal woman President of India, your leadership offers hope and assurance to countless young women across the country whose aspirations depend on our collective commitment to justice and reform.
We stand in unwavering solidarity with Ms. Bisi and her family and call upon your esteemed office to initiate decisive action to uphold constitutional values and ensure institutional accountability.
With highest respect and sincere hope,
Sincerely,
Advocate Biswapriya Kanungo
Chairperson, CSFHR Bhubaneswar
Email: biswapriya1962@gmail.com
Mobile No +91 98613 92021.