Today, On 23rd May, The Supreme Court strongly criticised the Rajasthan government over the rising number of student suicides in Kota. It questioned why such tragedies were happening only in Kota and urged the state to seriously address the issue.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court criticized the Rajasthan government on Friday regarding the alarming increase in student suicides in Kota, labeling the situation as “serious” and expressing deep concern over the authorities’ lack of action.
Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, while reviewing related cases, questioned,
“Why are these children dying by suicide and only in Kota? Have you not given a thought as a state?”
They were informed that 14 student suicides had been reported in Kota this year.
The court’s remarks arose during the hearing of two suicide cases: one involving a 22-year-old IIT Kharagpur student found hanging in his hostel room on May 4, and another concerning a NEET aspirant who took her life at her home in Kota, where she lived with her parents.
The bench inquired about the four-day delay in filing an FIR in the IIT student’s case, which was eventually lodged on May 8.
Justice Pardiwala asked a police officer present in court, warning that such delays could lead to contempt proceedings,
“Why did you take four days to lodge an FIR?”
The bench emphasized,
“Don’t take these things lightly. These are very serious matters,”
The officer stated that the FIR had been registered and the investigation was ongoing, but the court expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations given by both the police and the counsel for IIT Kharagpur, indicating that a stricter stance could have been taken.
In the NEET aspirant’s case, the bench criticized the failure to file an FIR and admonished the Rajasthan government’s counsel.
Also Read: Student Suicides in Higher Education “Alarming”, Action Needed: Bombay HC
Highlighting that it was the police’s duty to act, even though the student had moved to live with her parents in November 2024, the bench asked,
“You are in contempt of our judgment. Why have you not registered the FIR?”
The Supreme Court also referenced its March 24 judgment, which established a national task force to tackle mental health issues and prevent suicides in educational institutions, stressing that registering an FIR and conducting a prompt investigation are crucial components of that ruling.
While acknowledging the Rajasthan government’s formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the bench noted that this did not excuse the authorities from their failure to act promptly in individual cases.
The court has summoned the police officer responsible for the Kota jurisdiction to appear on July 14 to explain the reasons for not registering the FIR in the NEET aspirant’s case. The bench directed that investigations into both cases should proceed swiftly and appropriately.
This hearing highlights the increasing judicial scrutiny of systemic failures in student welfare, particularly in coaching hubs like Kota, which accommodate thousands of aspirants preparing for competitive exams each year.
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