Trigger Warning: The Content mentions ‘Suicide’ which might be Triggering for some Readers.
On March 24, 2025, the Supreme Court of India addressed growing concerns over the mental health of students in higher educational institutions by setting up a National Task Force (NTF). The move was prompted by the recurring incidents of student suicides, including the tragic deaths of two students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. The Court expressed deep concern over the rising number of suicides in educational institutions and noted the failure of the existing legal and institutional frameworks to adequately address the mental health concerns of students. The bench, consisting of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, highlighted the need for a more robust and responsive system to tackle the underlying causes that drive students to suicide.
The NTF is tasked with preparing a comprehensive report to identify the primary causes leading to student suicides, evaluate the effectiveness of current regulations, and propose measures to strengthen the protection of students. Additionally, the NTF will have the authority to conduct surprise inspections of educational institutions and make recommendations beyond its specified mandate to address the mental health issues of students and prevent suicides. The Court ordered that an interim report be submitted within four months, with a final report due within eight months.
The formation of the task force was partly influenced by the case of two IIT Delhi students, Ayush Ashna and Anil Kumar, both of whom died by suicide in 2023. Their families alleged that the deaths were a result of caste-based discrimination, a claim that was initially ignored by the police. The families approached the Court after the Delhi High Court rejected their request to register an FIR against the institution and its staff.
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The Supreme Court noted that the police had failed to properly investigate the allegations, dismissing them under the assumption that no one had abetted the suicides. The Court emphasized that this inaction was indicative of broader systemic issues that affect students, particularly those from marginalized communities, and highlighted that caste discrimination, academic pressure, and harassment were recurring factors in student suicides.
The Court also pointed to alarming data presented by the Union Minister of State for Education in 2023, revealing that 98 students had died by suicide in higher educational institutions since 2018. Among these, 39 were from IITs, 25 from NITs, and others from central universities, IIMs, and IIITs. These statistics reflect a disturbing trend that the Court felt needed urgent intervention.
The Supreme Court critiqued the police’s handling of the cases, asserting that they had failed to register an FIR as required under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) upon receiving complaints of potential foul play. The Court made it clear that, regardless of the reputation of institutions like IIT Delhi, the police must take the allegations seriously and conduct a thorough investigation. As a result, the Court directed the Delhi Police to register the FIRs in the cases of Ashna and Kumar and to appoint a senior officer, that should not be below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), to lead the investigation in this case.
The judgment highlighted that such incidents were not isolated but part of a wider issue of systemic neglect of student well-being in educational settings. The Court’s ruling aims to increase accountability within educational institutions and law enforcement and stresses the importance of addressing the root causes of student suicides, including mental health challenges, caste discrimination, and academic stress.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s establishment of the NTF and its directive to the police represent a significant step toward improving the mental health infrastructure in Indian educational institutions. It seeks to ensure that students, particularly those from vulnerable communities, receive the support they need to prevent further tragedies. The comprehensive approach outlined by the Court aims not only to tackle immediate concerns but also to create a more supportive and responsive environment for students across the country.
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