Priyanka Tiwari
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The Supreme Court has raised serious concerns over rising student suicides in educational institutions. On Monday, the apex court directed Delhi Police to register an FIR and investigate the suicides of two SC/ST students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.
A bench led by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ordered the Deputy Commissioner to assign an officer of ACP rank for the case. The court stated that it was not necessary to comment further, as crime investigations fall under police authority. The bench also pointed out that the rate of student suicides now exceeds that of farmers, which reflects a critical issue in the education sector.
Institutions Must Ensure Student Safety, Says SC
The Supreme Court emphasized that the administration of educational institutions is responsible for safeguarding the mental and physical well-being of students. The bench clarified that in the event of any suicide on campus, the institution must immediately file an FIR with the proper authorities.
The court stated that this is not only a legal responsibility but also a moral obligation to ensure justice, transparency, and accountability. It urged police officers to register FIRs promptly, without delay or refusal.
National Task Force on Student Mental Health Announced
To address the increasing number of student suicides, the Supreme Court has ordered the formation of a National Task Force focused on mental health and suicide prevention in higher education institutions. Former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat will head this panel.
The court instructed Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to appoint Joint Secretary-level officers from their Higher Education Departments as nodal representatives for coordination with the task force.
Background of the Case
The court's decision follows an appeal filed by the parents of two students who died in 2023. The appeal challenged a Delhi High Court order that denied registration of an FIR.
In July 2023, Ayush Ashna, a B.Tech student, was found dead in his hostel room. Two months later, in September, 21-year-old Anil Kumar from Uttar Pradesh was also discovered deceased in his hostel. Kumar had joined IIT Delhi in 2019.
The families allege that these deaths were not suicides but homicides resulting from caste-based harassment by faculty and staff. They claim that both students faced discrimination, and this played a direct role in their tragic deaths.
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