‘What Is Wrong with IIT Kharagpur?’ SC Pulls Up Institutions after Student Deaths

Moneylife Digital Team 28 July 2025

Personal Finance

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed deep concern over a series of student suicides at premier educational institutions, including Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP) and Sharda University, raising serious questions about the role and responsibility of campus administrations. A bench comprising justice JB Pardiwala and justice R Mahadevan was hearing a suo motu case related to the recent deaths of students at both institutions.

“What is wrong with IIT KGP? Why are students committing suicide? Have you given a thought to it?” the bench asked bluntly, reflecting its dismay at the recurring incidents and perceived administrative apathy.

The Court’s attention was drawn to the tragic death of Ritam Mandal, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, who died by suicide on 18th July. Ritam, a dual-degree student from Kolkata, is the fourth student from the institute to die by suicide since January 2025. Earlier this year, on 12 January 2025, the body of Shaon Mallick, a third-year electronics engineering student, was also found hanging in his hostel room.

In response to the Court’s queries, counsel for IIT Kharagpur says that the institution had set up a 10-member committee to address mental health issues and improve student support. The counsel also informed the bench that the campus now has a counselling centre, a dedicated helpline number, and a system to identify students who may be struggling with mental health challenges.

Despite these assurances, the court appeared unconvinced and demanded accountability from the institution. It also directed the West Bengal police to submit a detailed status report on the ongoing investigation within four weeks.

The Court is also examining the case of Jyoti Sharma, a second-year dental student at Sharda University in Greater Noida, who died by suicide in her hostel. The amicus curiae, Aparna Bhatt, informed the bench that Jyoti’s father had lodged a first information report (FIR) just two hours after the incident. A suicide note was found and two individuals were arrested, but the court questioned why the university itself failed to inform the authorities or the student’s family.

“Did the students inform the father? Why didn’t the college management communicate this? Is it not their responsibility to inform the police and the parents immediately?” the bench asked, raising concerns over the institution’s failure to follow existing Supreme Court directives.

The judges, while refraining from making further comments due to the ongoing investigations, instructed both the Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal police to continue probing the cases in accordance with the law and to file comprehensive reports within four weeks.

The Court was also informed during the hearing that another student had died by suicide at IIT Delhi on 4 June 2025, but an FIR had yet to be registered in that case. The court directed that the issue be taken up with the amicus curiae for further consideration.

The apex court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the deaths at IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University on 21 July 2025, following reports highlighting growing mental health concerns and inadequate response mechanisms in educational institutions.

Warning that failure to file FIRs promptly in such sensitive cases could attract contempt proceedings, the Bench has now placed the matter for further hearing after four weeks. The court’s stern observations serve as a wake-up call to institutions across the country, urging them to prioritise student welfare and mental health support with greater urgency and transparency.

Comments

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karan.r.gandhi

7 months ago

Mental health = Metabolic Health. The metabolic health of students studying at the educational institutions should be evaluated. Compromised metabolic health might explain why these students are taking such drastic steps.