Supreme Court Forms National Task Force to Address Student Suicides in Higher Education

The Supreme Court has formed a National Task Force to address student mental health concerns and prevent suicides in higher educational institutions. The Court mandated institutions to file FIRs in campus suicide cases and emphasized fostering a supportive environment.

Chaired by Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, the Task Force includes experts from psychiatry, education, and law. It will identify causes, review policies, recommend legal reforms, and conduct surprise inspections. States/UTs must appoint nodal officers for cooperation.

Court ordered Centre to deposit ₹20 lakh for initial operations. Interim and final reports are due in four and eight months; the court case continues.