The Bombay High Court has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in student suicides across Maharashtra. During a hearing on July 30 regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) submitted on June 11, the court emphasized the urgent need for the state authorities to take proactive measures to safeguard students’ mental and physical well-being, which it termed essential for their overall development.
The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, highlighted deficiencies in the University of Mumbai and affiliated colleges regarding initiatives to reduce suicidal tendencies among higher education students. The court underscored that a student’s mental health is crucial to their overall health.
The petitioner’s representative, advocate Shyam Panchmukh, cited data from the National Crime Records Bureau indicating a disturbing increase in student suicides in Maharashtra: 1,487 cases in 2019, 1,648 in 2020, and 1,834 in 2021. This alarming trend has raised significant concerns about the support systems available for students.
The advocate noted the National Education Policy 2020 promoted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which mandates counseling systems in every educational institution to address stress and emotional challenges faced by students. However, a report from the University of Mumbai indicated a lack of such systems, despite the commitment to the implementation of NEP 2020.
Additionally, Panchmukh referred to the UMMEED guidelines from the Ministry of Education, which emphasize that mental health is vital for holistic development and is reflected in the core goals of the National Education Policy.
The petition calls for the University of Mumbai to mandate that all affiliated colleges hire counselors to address mental health concerns. It also seeks the appointment of two faculty members from each institution as college counselors and to enhance awareness about mental health resources on campus. The proposal includes making contact information for trained counselors readily accessible and conducting orientation sessions at the beginning of each academic year.
In response, the court reiterated that the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, obligates the University to foster a healthy environment and ensure student welfare, thus reinforcing its duty to implement preventive measures against suicides.
The Bench has directed the petitioner to include the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the PIL and has requested that the state of Maharashtra and the University of Mumbai submit affidavits within three weeks.
