Shreya Gupta
On 28th July, 2025, the Supreme Court of India took a stern view of the recurring incidents of student suicides. These incidents have been reported at premier educational institutions, particularly the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT KGP).
A Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan expressed serious concern over the matter, asking pointedly what was going wrong at IIT Kharagpur and why students were resorting to such extreme measures.
The Court emphasised the need for introspection and effective action by the institution, questioning whether the administration had adequately addressed the underlying issues. In response, the counsel representing IIT Kharagpur informed the Court that a 10-member committee had been formed to deal with student mental health and suicide prevention. He added that the institute had established a counselling centre, was identifying students facing mental health issues, and had also provided a helpline number accessible at all times.
The case came up for hearing as part of a suo motu proceeding initiated by the Supreme Court to address student suicides, not just at IIT Kharagpur but also at Sharda University. The Court had earlier sought formal responses from both institutions regarding these tragic incidents. During the latest hearing, it was informed that First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered in both cases at Sharda University. An FIR was filed by the father of the deceased student, while at IIT Kharagpur, the administration filed a complaint with the police within 30 minutes of discovering the incident. The Court acknowledged these developments and noted that investigations in both cases were ongoing, instructing that the probes continue in accordance with the law and without interference from the Court at this stage.
Furthermore, the Court was apprised of another suicide incident that took place at IIT Delhi on June 4. Unlike the previous cases, no FIR had been registered yet in this instance. The Bench directed that this issue be addressed with the Amicus Curiae (a legal advisor appointed by the Court), indicating its continued concern and engagement with the broader issue of student mental health and institutional accountability. The matter has been posted for further consideration after four weeks, signaling that the Court intends to maintain oversight and ensure meaningful steps are taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Case Title: Amit Kumar & ors. v. Union of India & ors.
Case Number: Criminal Appeal no. 1425/2025
Bench: Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan
Instagram: Click Here
LinkedIn: Click Here
For Collaboration and Business: info.desikaanoon@gmail.com