The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning to all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), mandating their participation in a comprehensive survey regarding student suicides. Failure to comply with this directive may result in the court issuing adverse orders against the non-compliant institutions.
This strong stance from the Supreme Court reflects the growing concern over the rising number of student suicides in India's premier educational institutions. The court has acknowledged the "disturbing pattern" of such incidents, highlighting the urgent need for robust mechanisms to address the factors that drive students to take their own lives. These factors include academic pressure, caste-based discrimination, financial stress, and sexual harassment.
The court's intervention was prompted by an appeal filed by the parents of two IIT-Delhi students who died by suicide in 2023. These parents have alleged that their sons, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, faced caste-based discrimination and were possibly murdered. They further claimed a conspiracy by IIT faculty to cover up the caste-based harassment.
In response to these concerns, the Supreme Court has not only ordered police investigations into the deaths of the IIT-Delhi students but has also taken cognizance of the broader issue of student suicides in higher education. The court cited alarming statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which revealed that over 13,000 students died by suicide in 2021, a figure that has doubled over the past decade. Student suicides now surpass those committed by farmers due to agrarian distress, with a 4% increase recorded in 2024 alone.
To address this critical issue, the Supreme Court has formed a National Task Force (NTF) to examine the mental health challenges faced by students. Chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, the NTF is tasked with identifying the causes behind student suicides, evaluating existing safeguards, and recommending comprehensive measures for prevention.
The Supreme Court has expressed its dissatisfaction with the lack of institutional action against caste-based discrimination in higher education. Senior advocate Indira Jaising informed the court that in the 14 months prior to February 2025, 18 suicides occurred in IITs and IIMs. Jaising, who appeared for the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi (both of whom allegedly died by suicide after facing caste-based discrimination), stated that universities and colleges had not provided complete data on suicides occurring on their campuses, despite a court order. She also noted that a significant percentage of universities and colleges had not established equal opportunity cells on their campuses.
The Supreme Court has emphasized the fundamental responsibility of educational institutions to ensure student safety. The court has warned that failure to fulfill these responsibilities would be viewed strictly, and it underscored the need for proactive intervention in student mental health. The court has directed police departments in Delhi, West Bengal, and Rajasthan to file status reports on the ongoing investigations into the recent deaths of students from IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kharagpur, and a NEET aspirant in Kota. The court is closely monitoring the progress of these investigations and is determined to address the issue of student suicides in higher educational institutions effectively.
