On Friday, May 23, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a stern rebuke to the Rajasthan government over its failure to address the rising number of student suicides in Kota, the country’s coaching capital. The city has already recorded 14 student suicides this year, prompting alarm from the bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan.
Describing the situation as “serious,” the court questioned the state’s inaction. “Why are these children dying by suicide and only in Kota? Have you not given it a thought as a State?” Justice Pardiwala asked, highlighting the severe mental health toll of Kota’s high-pressure academic atmosphere.
In response, the state government informed the court that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to probe the incidents. However, the justices found this response inadequate and criticised lapses in basic policing, including delayed First Information Reports (FIRs).
The court was reviewing two specific cases: the death of a 22-year-old IIT Kharagpur student who died by suicide on May 4, and a NEET aspirant in Kota who had moved in with her parents after leaving her coaching hostel in November 2024. In the IIT case, the court expressed concern over the four-day delay in filing the FIR, which was registered only on May 8.
When the police officer present confirmed that the FIR had finally been filed and the probe was underway, the court warned, “Don’t take these things lightly. These are very serious matters,” and ordered the investigation to proceed strictly “in accordance with law.”
The bench also criticised both IIT Kharagpur and the local police for their handling of the case, stating that the explanations given were unsatisfactory. “We could have taken a very strict view of the matter… even proceeded for contempt against the police officer in charge,” the justices noted, although they held back in light of the ongoing investigation.
Turning to the Kota case, the court condemned the complete failure to register an FIR. Referring to its March 24 directive that led to the creation of a national task force on student mental health, the court reiterated the responsibility of local police, regardless of whether the student was residing in coaching accommodation at the time of her death.
“The officer in charge has failed in his duty. He has not complied with the directions issued by this court,” the bench declared.
The Supreme Court has now summoned the responsible police officer to appear on July 14 to explain the investigative lapses.
