NEW DELHI: Taking note of the increasing suicide deaths in higher educational institutions across the country, the Supreme Court on Monday formed a National Task Force for a mechanism to prevent student suicide deaths on campuses and address their mental health issues.
The two-judge bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan directed Delhi Police to register an FIR on the complaints by family members of two students who died by suicide while studying at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, in 2023. The top court directed the DCP (southwest district) to register the FIR and depute an officer not below an assistant police commissioner to investigate.
Noting that a “disturbing pattern” of student suicides was being reported from various educational institutions across the country, the apex court ordered the formation of the NTF headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat. The bench asked him to submit a report in four months identifying the causes and propose steps to strengthen mechanisms to check student suicides.
The apex court clarified that these tragedies underscored the urgent need for a more comprehensive, robust and responsive mechanism to address various factors which compel students to resort to taking their own lives.
The court also added that failure to have proper prevention mechanisms would mean failing the very purpose of education to uplift, empower, and transform lives.
The court also said and expected the authorities (including the NTF) to not merely exercise authority and control over students but also provide support in times of distress.
The bench said the nation had already suffered the tragic loss of numerous students -- young individuals with immense potential who could have gone on to become successful professionals.
The 210th report of the Law Commission of India identified suicide as one of the most significant factors contributing to the premature and unnatural cessation of human life, it added. The bench said the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2021 highlights the grim reality: Over 13,000 students lost their lives by committing suicide in the country, which is almost twice the already disturbing number a decade ago.
According to the NCRB report, student suicides accounted for 7.6 percent of the total suicides in India in 2022, with 1.2 percent of total suicides attributable to professional or career problems and 1.2 percent to failure in examinations.
Provide support in times of distress, says SC
The court also expected the authorities to not merely exercise authority over students but also provide support in times of distress.The bench said the nation had already suffered the loss of numerous students who could have gone on to become successful professionals.