Supreme Court Seeks Detailed Report on Student Suicides at IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed serious concern over student suicides at IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University, observing that “something is wrong” and calling for immediate accountability. A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan took suo motu cognisance of the recent deaths and sought detailed responses from both institutions on whether the incidents were promptly reported to the police and if First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered without delay.

The move comes after a 24-year-old dental student at Sharda University died by suicide last week, leaving behind a note that led to the arrest of two faculty members. The court also noted that the incident at IIT Kharagpur marked the fourth student suicide there in the last seven months, prompting the bench to question what systemic issues may be contributing to the repeated tragedies.

The court appointed senior advocate Aparna Bhatt as amicus curiae to assist in gathering facts, reviewing FIR status, and assessing institutional responses. The bench warned that if FIRs had not been filed or there was a delay in action, it would initiate contempt proceedings and direct civil imprisonment for responsible officials.

IIT Kharagpur’s legal representative claimed the institute had responded promptly to the case. The matter comes under wider judicial scrutiny after the apex court, in a March 24 order, mandated the registration of FIRs in all student suicide cases. The court had also formed a National Task Force led by former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat to investigate underlying causes such as sexual harassment, ragging, and caste-based discrimination in academic institutions. The task force is yet to submit its preliminary report.