Saturday, March 29, 2025
New Delhi, July 28, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India has raised sharp and urgent questions over the alarming increase in student suicides, taking particular note of recent cases at IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University. The court sought explanations from the institutions and directed both Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal police to submit detailed status reports within four weeks.
Hearing the matter suo motu, the bench expressed concern over the apparent lack of timely response from universities and law enforcement. The court grilled Sharda University’s management for failing to follow previous directives and questioned why the student’s father was informed of his daughter’s death only after he approached authorities himself.
“Why did the management not inform the parents immediately? Why was there no proper communication? Wasn’t it the institution’s responsibility to alert both the police and the family?” the bench asked sternly.
In the Sharda University case, Amicus Curiae Aparna Bhat informed the court that a suicide note had been found and two individuals were arrested based on the FIR filed by the victim’s father. However, the court pointed out discrepancies in institutional protocol and questioned whether any attempt was made to prevent the tragedy.
In the IIT Kharagpur case, the court noted a lack of updates from the police, with Amicus Bhat reporting no cooperation or clear response from authorities. The court emphasized the urgent need for educational institutions to create safer and more transparent environments, especially in high-stress academic settings.
While refraining from further comment due to the ongoing investigations, the Supreme Court signaled that institutional accountability and student mental health are now under sharp legal and public scrutiny.
