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The Supreme Court of India has taken a significant step in addressing student suicides in higher education institutions, directing Delhi Police to investigate the deaths of two IIT Delhi students from the SC/ST community. A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ordered the registration of an FIR and appointed an officer of at least ACP rank to conduct the probe.
Acknowledging the alarming pattern of student suicides, the court emphasized the duty of educational institutions to ensure student safety. “In the event of any unfortunate incident such as suicide on campus, it is the institution’s duty to promptly lodge an FIR,” the bench noted, stressing that such action is both a legal and moral imperative to uphold transparency and accountability.
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, the court has also constituted a National Task Force to address mental health concerns and prevent further suicides in higher educational institutions. Former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat will head the task force, with each state and union territory required to appoint a high-ranking official as a nodal officer.
The judgment follows an appeal by the parents of Ayush Ashna and Anil Kumar, two IIT Delhi students found dead in their hostel rooms in 2023. The families allege the deaths were murders linked to caste-based discrimination rather than suicides.
With the task force’s formation and a high-level investigation underway, the Supreme Court’s directive aims to bring justice to grieving families while addressing systemic issues in India’s top educational institutions.
