The Union education ministry has issued a directive requiring all universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) to report any student suicide or unnatural death to the police immediately. This mandate applies regardless of the circumstances surrounding the incident or the mode of study involved. The ministry’s action aligns with the Supreme Court’s previous rulings aimed at preventing student suicides and addressing mental health issues within educational settings.
The court’s order further said such incidents must be reported as soon as institutions become aware of them, including deaths occurring on campus, in hostels, PG accommodations or elsewhere, and covering students studying through classroom, distance or online modes. The letter is a compliance reminder. In a September 16 letter to vice-chancellors and heads of centrally funded institutions, Syed Ekram Rizwi, joint secretary in the department of higher education, asked institutions to accord priority to the issue and ensure continued compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in January. Citing paragraph 45(iii) of the apex court’s January 15, 2026 order, the ministry said: “HEIs shall immediately report every student suicide or unnatural death to police authorities, irrespective of location, circumstances, mode of study or accommodation.
The family of one of them, Anil Kumar, had alleged caste-based discrimination and harassment. It also reminded institutions of directions to fill vacant teaching and non-teaching posts, as well as key administrative posts such as vice-chancellors and registrars. The Supreme Court’s January order followed its proceedings in a case concerning the deaths of two Scheduled Caste students of IIT Delhi in 2023. The proceedings led the court to constitute a National Task Force (NTF), headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat, in March 2025 to examine measures to prevent student suicides and address mental health concerns in higher educational institutions.
Though the four-month deadline set by the court has passed, the ministry said the directions remain relevant for ensuring accountability.
Ministry Confirms Court Directive on Scholarship Disbursement
The ministry has reaffirmed a court ruling mandating that all pending scholarships must be distributed within four months. Additionally, any delays in payment should be communicated to students within two months, along with the reasons for the holdups. The ministry emphasized that students should not be subjected to any academic or administrative penalties due to these delays in scholarship payments.
