‘Why only Kota?’: SC pulls up Rajasthan govt over rising student suicides

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed deep concern over the spike in student suicides in Rajasthan’s coaching hub Kota, calling the situation “serious” and criticising the state government’s lack of urgency in addressing the issue.

A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan took strong exception to the inaction, citing that 14 student suicides have already been reported from Kota in 2024 alone.

“What are you doing as a state? Why are these children dying by suicide and only in Kota? Have you not given a thought as a state?” Justice Pardiwala asked the counsel appearing for the Rajasthan government.

The state’s counsel informed the court that a special investigation team (SIT) had been formed to examine the suicide cases. However, the bench was not satisfied.

Concerns over delay in IIT Kharagpur FIR

The court was also hearing a related matter regarding the death of a 22-year-old IIT Kharagpur student, who was found hanging in his hostel room on May 4. The FIR in the case was lodged only on May 8.

“Don’t take these things lightly. These are very serious things,” the bench observed, questioning the four-day delay.

Although IIT Kharagpur authorities claimed to have informed police promptly, the bench was not convinced by explanations provided by the institute’s counsel and the police officer present in court.

“We could have taken a very strict view of the matter. We could have even proceeded for contempt against the police officer in-charge concerned of the jurisdictional police station,” the bench remarked. It refrained from further comments, noting that the FIR had now been registered and the investigation was underway.

Court recalls earlier verdict on student mental health

The bench referred to its 24 March ruling, which had highlighted recurring student suicides in higher educational institutions and led to the formation of a national task force aimed at addressing mental health concerns.

On Friday, the judges stressed that prompt FIR registration was mandatory in such incidents, in line with that judgment.

Probe lapses in NEET aspirant’s suicide

In the Kota case involving a NEET aspirant who died by suicide while living with her parents, the court noted that the student had left her institute-provided accommodation in November 2024. Still, police had a responsibility to register an FIR and investigate the matter.

"You are in contempt of our judgement. Why have you not registered the FIR?" the bench asked the Rajasthan government’s counsel, asserting that the concerned territorial police officer had “failed in his duty” and “not complied with the directions issued by this court”.

Police officer summoned

The bench summoned the police officer handling the Kota case to appear in court on July 14 to explain the delay in action.

“The investigation should be carried out expeditiously in the right direction,” the bench added.

With PTI inputs