SC task force appoints nodal officers to address student suicides

The Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) on student suicides and mental health in higher education has decided to designate a Nodal Officer in every state and union territory to strengthen its work.

Headed by former SC judge Justice Ravindra Bhat, the 12-member panel confirmed that its nationwide surveys have already drawn over 1 lakh responses from students, parents, faculty, and citizens.

According to the statement, all higher education institutes listed under the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) must submit detailed responses by Sept 12.

The All India Council for Technical Education, the Pharmacy Council of India, the Bar Council of India, and other regulatory agencies have also been asked to provide data.

The Department of Higher Education has directed these bodies to furnish information on student and faculty composition by category and quota, mental health facilities, records of suicides and attempts, dropout numbers, grievance redressal mechanisms, and measures adopted for student well-being.

The task force was set up by the SC after petitions from parents of students who had died by suicide, including the families of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who sought stronger institutional safeguards.

Its mandate includes identifying the leading causes of student suicides, such as ragging, discrimination, financial stress, academic burden, and stigma around mental health.

The panel will also review regulations to examine systemic shortcomings and recommend reforms for better mental health support.

Since its launch in August, the task force has rolled out five surveys and held its first press briefing.

It reported that over 80,000 students, 10,000 faculty, 15,000 parents, and 8,000 citizens had participated. In addition, more than 700 mental health professionals have contributed their inputs.