'Something is wrong': SC takes note of student suicides at IIT-Kharagpur, Sharda; seeks report from universities

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday took note of the recent student suicides at Sharda University in Greater Noida and IIT Kharagpur, and has sought detailed reports from both institutions. The bench observed that something is "seriously wrong with the educational system" which pushes students to such extreme steps. It also warned that if FIRs were not filed in time, contempt proceedings would be initiated against the university management.

The Court has asked both universities to file their responses and posted the matter for hearing next Monday.

At Sharda University, 21-year-old dental student Jyoti Jongda was found hanging in her hostel room on July 19. In a suicide note, she blamed two faculty members for mental harassment. Her father alleged in the FIR that his daughter was “personally tortured” and that university staff tried to destroy evidence. Police have arrested two teachers – Mahinder and Shairy – and an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, on July 18, Ritam Mondal, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, was found hanging in his hostel room. This marked the fourth such incident at the campus this year. The institute, claiming no signs of mental health issues in Mondal’s recent records, has formed a fact-finding committee and promised full cooperation with the investigation.