Today, the Supreme Court voiced concern over the increasing number of student suicides and the growing mental health crisis in educational institutions across India. A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta sought updates from the Centre and all States on the steps taken to implement its earlier directions aimed at protecting students’ mental well-being.
The matter arise from the Court’s July 2025 judgment, in which it had issued 15 comprehensive guidelines to establish a uniform national framework for student mental health and suicide prevention. At that time, the Court had directed all States and Union Territories to frame and notify rules regarding registration, student safety norms, and grievance redressal mechanisms within two months. The Centre was also asked to file a compliance affidavit within 90 days.
During the hearing, the Bench was informed that implementation remains incomplete in several States and Union Territories. It was noted that although the Ministry of Education has introduced initiatives such as Ummeed and Manodarpan to support student well-being, these programmes have not been uniformly adopted nationwide. Many institutions have also failed to develop or publicise their internal mental health policies, despite explicit directions from the Apex Court.
Taking note of this, the Bench directed that all States and Union Territories be made parties to the case and submit compliance reports within eight weeks. The Centre has been granted the same period to file its detailed affidavit. The matter has been listed for further hearing in January 2026.
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