Chief Justice Concerned Over Rising Student Suicides, Directs Health Ministry To Take Action
Chief Justice Concerned Over Rising Student Suicides, Directs Health Ministry To Take Action
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of student suicides in India, prompting a directive to the Union Health Ministry to detail measures being taken to prevent such tragedies. The issue came to light during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal, seeking urgent steps to curb the disturbing trend.
According to Bansal, data from an RTI query revealed that over 400 students under 18 years old died by suicide in Delhi between 2014 and 2018, underscoring the severity of the problem. Experts have labeled suicide as the most pressing public health crisis affecting Indians of all ages. A recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2022 recorded a staggering 1.71 lakh suicides nationwide, with a suicide rate reaching 12.4 per 1,00,000 people—a record high for India.
In response to the PIL, Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that student suicides demand urgent attention from both authorities and society. The court’s intervention highlights growing concerns about mental health among young people and the need for effective preventive measures.
The PIL has brought the issue to the forefront, urging proactive strategies from the government and stakeholders to address the underlying causes of student suicides. The Union Health Ministry now faces the task of submitting a comprehensive affidavit outlining current initiatives and future plans to tackle this critical issue.
As discussions continue in the judiciary and public domain, the focus remains on fostering a supportive environment and providing necessary resources to prevent further loss of young lives to suicide.
