The Supreme Court, while dealing with a suo motu matter concerning the deaths by suicide of two students, one from IIT Kharagpur and another from Sharda University, Greater Noida, emphasized the need for urgent and thorough investigation in both cases. The Court was informed of developments following its July 21 intervention and took serious note of procedural lapses, institutional response, and ongoing probe status.
A Division Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan heard submissions from Senior Advocate Aparna Bhat, who is assisting the Court as Amicus Curiae. She submitted her status report in compliance with earlier directions. Regarding the Sharda University case, it was stated that the father of the deceased girl had registered the FIR two hours post-incident, raising questions about the university’s delayed response.
During the proceedings, the Bench interrogated the conduct of Sharda University, specifically questioning its failure to report the incident to police and the victim’s family. “How did the father come to know? Why didn’t the university notify him or the authorities? Is this not a basic duty in such cases?” Justice Pardiwala remarked, pressing Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Sharda University, to respond.
As for the IIT Kharagpur case, the Court was informed that the institution had formally informed the local police within 30 minutes of discovering the student’s death, and an FIR was promptly registered. However, the Bench took note of the recurring pattern of suicides at the institution, terming it a serious institutional concern. “What is wrong with IIT Kharagpur? Why do these tragedies keep happening? Has the administration made any effort to address the deeper issues?” Justice Pardiwala asked.
Senior Advocate M.R. Shamshad, representing IIT Kharagpur, stated that a ten-member internal committee and a twelve-member counselling cell have been constituted to identify and address mental health concerns among students. He noted that outreach efforts were being made, including anonymous helplines and counselling access.
Bhat further informed the Court that criminal investigations in both matters are underway. In Sharda University’s case, a suicide note left by the deceased named two individuals, both of whom have been arrested. Without delving into details that might prejudice the probe, the Court acknowledged the ongoing investigation and issued directions for the matter to be pursued diligently and in accordance with law.
The Bench, after hearing counsel for Sharda University, IIT Kharagpur, the Union of India, and other parties, directed that both investigations proceed expeditiously. The matter is to be listed after four weeks for further updates and directions.
Earlier, the Court had expressed grave concern over the increasing incidence of suicides in educational institutions. It had issued notices to both universities, calling for details about the timeliness of FIR registrations and immediate institutional response following the tragic events.
The issue forms part of a broader judicial inquiry initiated through a suo motu petition addressing the mental health crisis in higher educational institutions. The National Task Force (NTF), constituted by the Court on March 24 and chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, has been mandated to investigate structural issues contributing to student suicides and formulate preventive measures. The NTF was formed in response to a plea filed by parents of two IIT Delhi students who had allegedly died by suicide owing to caste-based discrimination and academic stress.
Recognizing that suicides on campus warrant urgent institutional and legal scrutiny, the Court reiterated its earlier directive mandating that an FIR must be registered without delay in such cases. It also emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes, ranging from academic pressure to lack of mental health infrastructure, that are fuelling these alarming trends.
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