Aastha Pareek
On November 11, 2024 the Delhi High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation seeking an independent investigation into the tragic student suicides at the National Law University, Delhi (NLUD). The petition, filed by Aditya Singh Tomar, highlighted three incidents of student suicides and urged the court to direct the establishment of a committee comprising mental health experts, educationists, and legal professionals to investigate the causes.
The plea also sought directions for NLUD to enforce mental health policies aligned with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and UGC regulations. Additional demands included the setup of 24/7 mental health counseling services, peer support networks, and regular student health assessments. Furthermore, it requested an evaluation of NLUD’s curriculum to determine its impact on student well-being and sought accountability for administrative lapses.
The university, represented by its counsel, submitted that internal investigations had found no direct connection between the suicides and the university’s curriculum or administration. In response to the incidents, an emergent meeting of the Governing Council was convened on October 19, 2024, resulting in several measures to address mental health challenges among students.
The bench, comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur, noted the steps already taken by the university and deemed them sufficient at this stage. However, the court left the door open for future petitions if adequate remedial measures were not implemented.
The plea was disposed of with the court emphasizing the importance of effective mental health interventions within educational institutions.
Case Name:- Aditya Singh Tomar v. Union of India & Anr.
Case Number:- W.P.(C) 15226/2024
Bench:- Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur.
Click here to access the order.