No dedicated framework to prevent student suicides, says SC panel
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New Delhi: A Supreme Court-appointed panel examining student suicides in higher education institutions has flagged the complete absence of a dedicated statutory, regulatory or institutional framework to prevent such deaths in India, while finding that a majority of colleges and universities surveyed lack basic mental health support services.
In its interim report, made public this week, the National Task Force (NTF) revealed that 65 per cent of the 2,119 higher education institutions surveyed do not provide access to mental health service providers, while 73 per cent lack a full-time mental health professional.
The panel, which submitted its report to the Supreme Court in November last year, also highlighted serious shortcomings in grievance redressal mechanisms and institutional responses to students in distress.
"The most glaring gap is the complete absence of any direct statutory, regulatory or institutional framework to address and prevent suicides. Most interventions are generic and reactive. The only document that provides possible modes of intervention, the Suicide Prevention Strategy of 2022 issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, remains abstract and lacks clear implementation guidelines," the report noted.
The task force stressed that India's social diversity, shaped by factors such as caste, class, economic background, region, language and aptitude, requires tailored strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
The report also found that institutions where student suicides had occurred often lacked empathy towards students. According to the panel, institutions frequently denied responsibility, suppressed protests and increased surveillance following such incidents.
In one case involving a private university, stringent institutional controls were imposed after a student suicide. In another instance, nursing college students who protested for three days after a suicide reportedly faced severe backlash. The panel noted that when its members later visited the institution, students remained fearful and reluctant to speak, claiming their batch had been "marked" and could face punishment for any perceived misstep.
The Supreme Court constituted the National Task Force in March 2025 while hearing a case related to the deaths of two students at IIT Delhi. The panel was tasked with examining student mental health concerns and recommending measures to prevent suicides in higher education institutions.
The 12-member task force, supported by six ex officio members, is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice S. Ravindra Bhat. Other members include psychiatrist Dr Alok Sarin, NIMHANS professor of clinical psychology Dr Seema Mehrotra and former Centre for Women's Development Studies director Mary E. John.
The NTF gathered inputs from students, faculty members, parents and higher education institutions. Its survey covered approximately 2.43 lakh students and 2,119 higher education institutions, representing about 3.5 per cent of all such institutions in the country. The panel also conducted field visits to 13 institutions.
Among the institutions surveyed, 56 reported one or more student suicides between April 2020 and March 2025. Only 35 per cent said they provided access to mental health service providers. While 31 per cent reported having no such services, 34 per cent said they planned to introduce them in the future.
The report further found that 1,573 institutions, accounting for 73 per cent of respondents, did not employ a full-time mental health professional.
Field visits revealed that many mandatory committees and support cells existed largely on paper and were often ineffective, non-transparent and unfriendly to students. Officials responsible for these bodies were frequently unaware of their mandated functions and available provisions.
While anti-ragging cells and Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) appeared robust on paper, the panel observed that grievance redressal mechanisms were either non-existent or operated at a minimal level to satisfy compliance requirements.
Students across institutions also reported instances of sexual harassment, suppression of complaints and what they described as inefficient and biased proceedings despite the presence of Internal Complaints Committees.
The report highlighted varying perceptions of caste-based discrimination within higher education institutions. It noted that many Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class students appeared hesitant to openly discuss reservation-related issues due to fears of being identified or targeted. At the same time, some students from socially advantaged groups expressed resentment towards reservation policies and blamed them for not securing admission to preferred courses.
The panel also identified rigid attendance policies and a widespread lack of trust between students, faculty members and institutional administrations.
Among its recommendations, the task force called for the establishment of high-quality, subsidised or free mental health services across higher education institutions, including the appointment of full-time counsellors.
The report further noted the difficulties faced by the NTF in obtaining data on student mental health and suicides, describing these challenges as evidence of the deep-rooted barriers that could hinder the implementation of national-level mental health initiatives.
In addition, the report included complaints received from students regarding scholarship delays and denials. Students told the panel that colleges often deducted scholarship amounts from tuition fees, but when government reimbursements were delayed, institutions required students to cover the shortfall themselves, creating financial hardship and additional stress.