New Delhi, February 28: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of suicides in premier institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), terming them "extremely unfortunate." The court assured that a robust mechanism would be developed to address the issue.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was apprised by senior advocate Indira Jaising that in the last 14 months, 18 students had died by suicide in IITs and IIMs. The court assured that it would take the issue to its "logical conclusion."
Call for Data and Accountability
Jaising, representing the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi—students who allegedly died by suicide due to caste-based discrimination—highlighted that universities and colleges had failed to furnish complete data on student suicides despite previous court directives.- Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar from Hyderabad Central University, died on January 17, 2016.
- Payal Tadvi, a student at TN Topiwala National Medical College, died on May 22, 2019, allegedly after facing discrimination from three doctors at her institution.
UGC Draft Regulations and Compliance Gaps
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed the court that the UGC had formulated draft regulations addressing many of the concerns raised by petitioners. These regulations were uploaded online for public suggestions and objections.However, Jaising pointed out that 40% of universities and 80% of colleges had not established equal opportunity cells, despite existing UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012.
The bench instructed Jaising and other counsels to submit their suggestions on the draft regulations, directing the UGC to review them. Jaising also requested an in-person hearing before finalizing the regulations, but Mehta opposed the request, arguing that allowing individual hearings could set a precedent for multiple similar requests.
Court’s Commitment to Eradicating Discrimination
Reaffirming its commitment to resolving caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions, the court stated that it would ensure the matter reached its "logical conclusion." The bench has scheduled the case for further hearing after eight weeks.In a previous hearing on January 3, the court termed the issue as "sensitive" and suggested establishing a structured mechanism to tackle caste-based discrimination in educational institutions. It directed the UGC to notify new regulations preventing discrimination in central, state, private, and deemed universities.
Petition Highlights Over 50 Suicides Since 2004
The petitioners highlighted that over 50 students, predominantly from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), had died by suicide in IITs and other institutions since 2004 due to discrimination. They argued that caste-based biases are "rampantly prevalent" in higher education and sought enforcement of the 2012 UGC regulations.Key demands in the petition include:
- Strict enforcement of anti-discrimination regulations in universities.
- Creation of equal opportunity cells on campuses, with representation from SC/ST groups, NGOs, and social organizations.
- Strong disciplinary action against institutions failing to curb caste-based discrimination.
- Protection of students from hostility in educational environments.
With the case scheduled for further deliberation, stakeholders await concrete steps from the judiciary and regulatory bodies to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment for students across India.