Supreme Court issues directives to curb student suicides

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a series of directives to ensure that student suicides at educational institutions are mandatorily reported, and to promote steps to curb such incidents in future [Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.]..The guidelines issued by the Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan for colleges and universities across the country include the mandatory reporting of any student suicide incident to the police, 24×7 access to medical care for students and those to minimise delays in disbursing scholarships to students. The directions are aimed at addressing the rising number of student suicides in higher educational institutions (HEIs) and are based on the findings of a National Task Force (NTF) constituted by the Court in 2025.The NTF had submitted an interim report examining patterns of student distress, institutional lapses, and gaps in existing regulatory systems.The Court noted that suicide is among the leading causes of death for young people aged 15–29 years in India. Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the order records that 13,000 student suicides were reported in 2022. The Court expressed concern that student suicides represent only a tip of a much larger iceberg of student distress..The Court proceeded to issue the following directions to address such issues. .Mandatory reporting of student suicidesOne of the key directions mandates that all HEIs immediately inform the police of any suicide or unnatural death of a student as soon as it comes to their notice, regardless of whether the incident occurred on campus, in hostels, private accommodation, or elsewhere.The rule applies to students studying in classroom, distance, or online modes.The direction stems from the Task Force’s finding that institutions often delay or downplay their response to student deaths, with responsibility frequently being shifted away from the institution itself."There is hardly any introspection into the institutionally normalised ‘stressors’ which may have had any contributory effect... HEIs cannot shirk away from their fundamental duty to ensure that their institutions as a whole are safe, equitable, inclusive and conducive spaces of learning," said the Court. In addition, HEIs have been directed to file annual reports on student suicides and unnatural deaths with the University Grants Commission or the relevant professional regulators, such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the National Medical Council (NMC) or the Bar Council of India (BCI). Central universities and institutions not covered by these bodies must report such student deaths to the Department of Higher Education of the Union Ministry of Education..24-hour medical access in residential campusesThe Court also directed that every residential HEI must provide round-the-clock access for students to qualified medical assistance, either on campus or within a 1 km radius. This follows the Task Force’s finding that mental health crises often escalate because of the absence of immediate medical care and weak referral systems.The NTF found that nearly 65 per cent of the institutions surveyed did not offer access to mental health service providers, while 73 per cent had no full-time professionals.The Court stressed that emergency medical access is a basic requirement in residential academic settings..Filling faculty and leadership vacanciesAcknowledging reports of faculty shortages and vacant leadership positions, the Court ordered that all vacant teaching and non-teaching posts in educational institutions be filled within four months.Priority in appointments should be given to positions reserved for candidates from marginalised and underrepresented communities, including persons with disabilities, the Court added. "Affirmative action cannot stop at merely ensuring their entry into higher education. It must also reflect in the creation of adequate support systems which ameliorate instead of exacerbate existing inequities," said the Court. The NTF had found that faculty shortages led to increased academic pressure, poor mentoring, and limited student support.The Court directed that top posts, including Vice-Chancellors and Registrars, should not remain vacant for more than a month, stating that since retirement dates are known in advance, the recruitment processes must start early. Institutions must also submit annual reports to the government detailing any reserved posts that remain unfilled and the reasons for the delay, the Court ordered. .Clearing scholarship delaysThe order mandates that all pending scholarship disbursements be cleared within four months. If there are any delays, the institution must inform both the student and the authorities of the reasons within two months.The NTF had documented widespread financial stress among students, particularly from rural and middle-income backgrounds, due to delayed scholarships and fee reimbursement failures. The Court has now also issued a categorical prohibition on disciplinary action against students facing such delays. It said,“No student should be prevented from appearing in an examination, removed from hostels, barred from attending classes, or have their marksheets and degrees withheld because of delays in disbursal of scholarships," it said. .Accountability and complianceThe Court has put all higher educational institutions on strict notice to comply with existing rules on ragging, equity, sexual harassment, and grievance redressal. "The menace of ragging still seems to persist within several HEIs... being normalised and touted as a 'bonding exercise' or a 'friendly ice-breaking effort'.. While HEIs obtain anti-ragging declarations from students on paper, in the event of such incidents occurring, they are not properly addressed and the consequences for erring students are minimal or absent," observed the Court.The NTF had also found that many mandated bodies, like Equal Opportunity Cells and Internal Complaints Committees, either exist only on paper or lack the independence and authority to function effectively.The Court expressed disappointment over the low response from institutions to the NTF’s surveys, describing it to be an apathetic attitude and warning that failure to comply with the directions would result to serious consequences..The Court has directed the Union and State governments to communicate these guidelines to all HEIs and ensure prompt implementation..The Court has also outlined a roadmap for the NTF to ensure its recommendations are effectively implemented and do not remain mere suggestions. The Task Force has been asked to create model standard operating procedures (SOPs) in three key areas: Regular well-being audits of institutions Faculty sensitisation and training Campus mental health services.These SOPs must detail the composition of auditing teams, evaluation criteria, training schedules, infrastructure and staffing needs for mental health support, confidentiality rules, feedback mechanisms, and follow-up procedures. The Court further directed the NTF to integrate all these SOPs into a single, comprehensive “Universal Student Well-being and Suicide Prevention Framework,” consolidating existing guidelines, ensuring HEIs have a structured and enforceable protocol to address student distress and suicides..Supreme Court directs FIR almost 2 years after IIT Delhi Dalit student suicides.[Read Order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.