India Creates Task Force to Address Rising Student Suicides
The task force, led by Justice S Ravindra Bhat, will investigate systemic causes, including caste discrimination and harassment, and recommend reforms within four to eight months.
- The Supreme Court of India has formed a National Task Force to address the increasing number of student suicides on campuses, particularly among marginalized communities.
- Justice S Ravindra Bhat will chair the task force, which includes officials from higher education, social justice, women and child development, and legal affairs departments.
- The task force is mandated to investigate systemic issues like caste discrimination, harassment, and mental health inadequacies and submit an interim report within four months and a final report within eight months.
- The court criticized Delhi Police for closing investigations into the 2023 suicides of two IIT Delhi students without filing FIRs despite allegations of harassment.
- Between 2019 and 2024, 37 student suicides were reported across IIT campuses, with the highest numbers at Delhi, Madras, and Hyderabad, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms.
Hindustan Times 