The Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) on student mental health and suicide prevention in higher education institutes (HEIs) is weighing specific safeguards for those from marginalised communities and those with disabilities, along with broader support measures, HT has learnt.
The 18-member body, which submitted its interim report to the top court in November 2025 and made it public in June 2026, is currently writing its final report and aims to submit it by October 31, the original deadline. On September 16, the Union education ministry reminded universities and other HEIs to immediately report every student suicide or unnatural death to the police, irrespective of where it occurred, the circumstances or the mode of study. It also directed institutions to comply with the Supreme Court’s January 2026 directions on preventing student suicides and addressing mental health concerns.
“Institutions must also be accountable for the support they provide to students experiencing distress. These include economic difficulties, discrimination, academic stress, family expectations and treatable mental health conditions. The family of one of them, Anil Kumar, had alleged caste-based discrimination and harassment.
The Supreme Court’s January order followed proceedings in a case concerning the deaths of two Scheduled Caste students at IIT-Delhi in 2023. The proceedings led the court to constitute the NTF, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat, in March 2025 to examine measures to prevent student suicides and address mental health concerns in higher education institutions.
Focusing on one factor in an individual case can obscure the wider range of problems that require intervention,” the member said. The member said existing court orders already require counsellors in schools and higher education institutions, but implementing these requirements nationwide remains a challenge. “With around 60,000 higher education institutions and lakhs of schools, ensuring adequate staffing will require addressing both recruitment and financial constraints,” the member said. The NTF itself will not be responsible for monitoring implementation of its final recommendations, the member said. “The report will be submitted to the Supreme Court, which may issue directions to institutions and government agencies and determine how compliance should be monitored,” the member said.
