The Delhi High Court closed a petition seeking an independent investigation into the suicides of students at NLU Delhi. The Court noted that the university has already implemented sufficient measures to address the situation for now. It acknowledged the steps taken by the institution in response to the tragic incidents.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a petition calling for an independent inquiry committee to investigate the factors behind student suicides at National Law University (NLU) Delhi.
Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur noted that the University has taken sufficient measures for now.
The Bench stated,
“Having considered the above, we are of the opinion that adequate steps have been taken by the respondent no. 2 (NLU Delhi) for the present. We do not, therefore, deem it appropriate to issue further directions in this petition at this stage.”
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They also mentioned that if the petitioner believes that adequate remedial actions have not been implemented, they may return to the Court for further relief.
NLU Delhi has been grappling with a crisis following the tragic suicides of three students within a month in September. In response, Aditya Singh Tomar filed the plea, urging the Court to mandate the University to adopt mental health policies that align with national guidelines and University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
The petition called for the establishment of 24/7 mental health counseling services, peer support networks, and regular mental health assessments for students. It also sought to hold the university administration accountable for any deficiencies and requested appropriate compensation for the families of the deceased students.
During the hearing, the lawyer representing NLU Delhi informed the Court that the incidents had been thoroughly investigated and no direct connection to the University or its curriculum was found.
It was also noted that an emergency meeting of the University’s Governing Council took place on October 19, during which several measures were agreed upon to facilitate early detection and prevention of similar incidents in the future.
After considering the counsel’s statements, the Court decided to dismiss the petition.
Advocates Abhishek Sharma, Parvinder Singh Sandhu, and Arun Shukla represented the petitioner, who appeared in person. Central Government Standing Counsel Kirtiman Singh, along with Advocates Waize, Maulik Khurana, Ranjeev Khatana, and Varun Pratap, represented the Union of India. Standing Counsel Sanjay Vashishtha, along with Advocates Vasudha Saini and Harshita Rai, appeared for NLU Delhi.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health challenges or having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please reach out to the helpline below:
iCall: 9152987821 (Health Helpline – Mon—Sat, 10 AM—8 PM. Available in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, and Kashmiri.)
Aasra provides support for individuals and families facing emotional crises, mental health issues, suicidal thoughts, and those affected by the loss of a loved one to suicide.
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