Kolkata, September 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has issued a show-cause notice to TS Chanakya, one of India’s oldest maritime training institutes, over the death of a first-year cadet in May 2026, following an inquiry that identified alleged lapses in campus security and enforcement of rules.
TS Chanakya, a shore-based maritime training institute located in Navi Mumbai, is now part of the Indian Maritime University (IMU). The notice was issued on Tuesday based on an inquiry conducted by the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Mumbai, and a report submitted to the DGMA on September 10, 2026.
According to the inquiry report, the cadet had consumed alcohol with other cadets in a hostel room on the campus hours before his death. The incident occurred on May 28, 2026, and involved a first-year BSc (Nautical Science) cadet who was staying in Hostel No. 2 and was assigned quartermaster duties that day.
During the inquiry, the cadet’s roommate told the MMD that the deceased had left the campus after dinner on May 27 and returned at around 11 p.m. Between approximately 1.30 a.m. and 3.30 a.m. on May 28, the cadet and three other cadets allegedly consumed alcohol in a hostel room during an informal farewell gathering.
The duty warden informed the MMD that hostel rounds had been conducted between 10.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on May 27 and again at around 4 a.m. on May 28. No unusual activity was observed during those checks, the warden reportedly said.
The cadet was later found injured at the rear of the hostel on May 28. He was taken to hospital, where he subsequently died.
The inquiry also found that cigarettes and liquor had allegedly been brought into the hostel earlier through a broken bathroom window. Gaps in the campus boundary wall reportedly allowed cadets to leave and re-enter the premises without being detected.
The report further noted that the rear section of the hostel and the boundary wall were not covered by CCTV cameras, raising concerns about surveillance and campus security.
The DGMA had previously issued an order imposing a complete ban on alcohol, tobacco and drugs on campus. Registered institutes, including government-run institutions, are required to strictly enforce abstinence, except in the case of medicinal drugs prescribed for a current ailment.
The order states that violations would constitute serious misconduct by both the candidate and the institute.
The DGMA was also informed of an earlier incident in 2024, when another cadet fell from a height at the rear of the hostel. During the latest inquiry, the MMD found that cadets could access the terrace through unsecured windows.
Taking the inquiry findings on record, the DGMA has directed TS Chanakya to submit all relevant documents, supporting material and an Action Taken Report within 15 days of receiving the show-cause notice.
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