The Supreme Court on Monday voiced serious concern over the rising incidents of student suicides in premier educational institutions, particularly at IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University, directing that investigations in both cases proceed expeditiously and in the right direction.
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, which has been monitoring the issue of suicides at educational institutions, questioned the systemic failures and institutional responses to student distress. Referring specifically to the death of a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, the bench asked pointedly, “What is wrong with your IIT Kharagpur? Why are students committing suicide? Have you given a thought to this problem? What steps have you taken?”
The court was informed by IIT Kharagpur’s counsel that a 10-member committee had been constituted to look into such issues and that a 12-member counselling centre was functioning to identify at-risk students. However, the bench noted that many students do not disclose their mental health struggles and sought more proactive institutional intervention.
The bench also examined the case of a female student’s suicide at Sharda University in Greater Noida. Senior advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing as amicus curiae, submitted a 30-page status report to the court and stated that a suicide note had been found naming two individuals, who have since been arrested. When the court asked who registered the FIR, it was informed that the deceased student’s father had lodged the complaint. This prompted the bench to ask, “How did the father come to know? Who informed him?”
Observing that “an unfortunate incident occurred in the university in which a young girl died,” the bench admonished the university for failing to follow protocol and not informing the police or the parents immediately. “Why are you not complying with our directions? We have delivered a full-fledged judgment. We are doing it for our children, for our progeny… Was it not your duty to immediately inform the police, inform the parents?” the court said.
In the IIT Kharagpur case, Bhat informed the bench that the complaint had been lodged by the institution and that the investigation was still underway.
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the suicides at these institutions on July 21 and had asked the amicus curiae to file a status report. The court has already constituted a national task force to examine mental health concerns among students and propose systemic reforms. However, it noted that the task force’s preliminary report would take some time to be submitted.
The bench has now posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.
