India's Supreme Court Launches Task Force to Combat Student Suicides

The National Task Force, chaired by Justice S Ravindra Bhat, will investigate systemic issues like discrimination and academic pressure, with an interim report due in four months.

The Supreme Court of India has formed a National Task Force (NTF) to address the alarming rise in student suicides, particularly in higher education institutions.
Justice S Ravindra Bhat will lead the task force, which includes officials from education, social justice, and legal departments, among others.
The NTF is tasked with identifying causes of student suicides, analyzing existing frameworks, and recommending preventive measures, with a final report due in eight months.
Delhi Police has been ordered to register an FIR to investigate alleged caste-based harassment linked to the suicides of two IIT Delhi students in 2023.
The court emphasized the role of institutions in safeguarding student mental health and criticized the inadequacy of existing frameworks in addressing systemic issues like discrimination and harassment.