BITS suicide: Enforcement of SC mandate under scrutiny

MARGAO
As another student of BITS Pilani, Goa, died on campus late Sunday, a familiar and troubling question has resurfaced for the administration and education stakeholders alike: Are the Supreme Court’s norms on student mental health and suicide prevention being implemented in Goa—and if so, are they being followed in both letter and spirit?
The Supreme Court’s mandated directions on student mental health came into sharp focus after the death of a student at BITS Pilani in September last year. Following widespread outrage, South Goa District Collector Egna Cleetus, IAS, initiated steps to implement the apex court’s guidelines on student mental health at BITS Pilani. However, questions remain over whether these directions have been extended to other educational institutions in the State, particularly higher education institutions.
When The Goan sought clarity from Cleetus on the implementation of the SC-mandated guidelines on student mental health and suicide prevention, she said that the government-constituted district-level committee had ensured that BITS Pilani implemented some of the prescribed measures, including a 24x7 online counselling facility.
However, when asked whether other educational institutions had complied with the top court’s directions, the Collector said that the Director of Higher Education would be better placed to respond.
A glance at the SC guidelines issued in Sukdeb Saha v State of Andhra Pradesh (judgment dated July 25, 2025) shows that the apex court laid significant emphasis on addressing student mental health through a uniform mental health policy, mandated student-to-counsellor ratios, staff training, and institutional accountability.
On student-to-counsellor ratios, the court directed educational institutions to assign dedicated mentors or counsellors to smaller student batches, particularly during high-stress periods such as examinations and academic transitions. The judgment also prohibited coaching institutes and schools from practices such as batch segregation, public shaming, or imposing disproportionate academic targets on students.
With regard to referral protocols and helplines, the Court mandated written procedures for referring students to mental health services, hospitals, and suicide prevention helplines. It further directed that helpline numbers—such as Tele-MANAS—must be prominently displayed in hostels, classrooms, and on institutional websites.
As per the uniform mental health policy, the guidelines mandated institutions with 100+ students to appoint at least one qualified counsellor/psychologist/social worker trained in child and adolescent mental health. Smaller institutions must establish referral linkages with external professionals, the SC added.
Incidentally, the guidelines had mandated all teaching and non-teaching staff to undergo mandatory bi-annual training by certified mental health professionals on psychological first aid, identifying warning signs, response to self-harm, and referral mechanisms, throwing up questions as to whether the guidelines are being implemented by educational institutions.
The SC guidelines apply to all institutions across India: schools, colleges, universities, coaching centres, hostels (public and private). District-level Monitoring Committees are to be formed under the District Magistrate/Collector with representation from education, health, child protection, and civil society.
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Institute implemented measures after earlier death: Collector
MARGAO: South Goa District Collector Egna Cleetus, IAS, on Monday said that BITS Pilani had set up a 24×7 online counselling facility on its campus in compliance with recommendations made by the Supreme Court-mandated, government-constituted District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC).
However, several questions remain unanswered. It is unclear whether the deceased female student was under the observation of the institute’s counselling team, particularly as she was reportedly undergoing treatment and taking medication for depression. It also remains to be ascertained why the student committed suicide despite the availability of a round-the-clock counselling facility on the campus.
Sources in the police and health departments said the student had been receiving counselling from Bengaluru for the past year. They questioned whether the 24×7 counselling facility established within the BITS campus had ever provided counselling or support to the deceased student.
Following the death of a student in September last year, the DLMC had made several recommendations to BITS Pilani. Collector Cleetus said the institute complied by introducing multiple measures, including the 24×7 online counselling facility.
“Members of the District Level Monitoring Committee visited the BITS Pilani campus after the previous student’s death and reviewed the academic ecosystem before suggesting measures aimed at safeguarding students’ mental health,” the Collector said.
“BITS Pilani has made certain changes based on the DLMC’s recommendations. Among them is the introduction of a round-the-clock online counselling facility, which was not available earlier. The institute has also implemented other recommendations made by the committee,” she added.
Referring to the latest incident, Collector Cleetus said the district administration was informed of the alleged suicide at around 10 pm on Sunday. “After receiving the information, the district administration, led by me, reached the spot. The investigation is currently underway,” she said.
She added that preliminary findings indicate the death to be a case of suicide. “The parents are arriving, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted. Further details will be known after the post-mortem,” the Collector said.
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Fix responsibility, says MLA as student death sparks outrage
MARGAO: The latest death of a BITS Pilani student inside the campus at Zuari Nagar triggered outrage, with Curtorim Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco demanding that the government fix responsibility for the repeated deaths of students, saying the incidents are giving a bad name to Goa.
Demanding that the institute should take moral responsibility for the deaths of students on the campus, Reginaldo said he had written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the past and would do so again to demand action against the management of the elite institution.
“Because of the deaths of students, Goa is getting a bad name. You cannot pass the buck time and again. The time has come to fix responsibility. I will send an e-mail to the Chief Minister to fix responsibility in the matter,” he asserted.
He added: “These young students are the future of the country. They may be hailing from other states, but that does not mean that the government cannot fix responsibility.”
He demanded that the inquiry conducted by the South Goa district collector be placed in the public domain for people to know the exact cause behind the death of the student who died in September last year.
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Demand for an independent probe
MARGAO: Expressing shock over the death of a 20-year-old student at BITS Pilani, Goa—the sixth such death within a single year, which has once again shaken public conscience—Madganvcho Ekvott has demanded an independent and impartial probe, strict accountability of the institution’s administration, and urgent systemic reforms to ensure that educational campuses do not turn into spaces of fear, neglect, and irreversible loss.
Madganvcho Ekvott convenor Prabhav Naik said this is no longer an isolated incident that can be explained away as unfortunate or accidental. The disturbing repetition of such tragedies points to a deep and systemic crisis that demands immediate attention, he added.
Naik said that an institution of national repute is expected to be a space of learning, safety, and holistic growth. “Instead, the recurring loss of young lives raises serious questions about extreme academic pressure, campus culture, and the adequacy of mental health and student support systems meant to protect young minds living far away from home,” he stated.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Naik pointed out that past media reports have suggested that some of the earlier deaths were allegedly linked to the consumption of narcotic substances. “If these reports carry even a degree of truth, it exposes a dangerous lapse in campus monitoring, preventive mechanisms, and administrative vigilance—issues that cannot be brushed under the carpet,” he said.
He further expressed concern over the apparent lack of transparency and accountability in handling such incidents. “Routine statements, internal inquiries, and symbolic assurances cannot substitute for honest introspection and decisive corrective action. Families deserve clear answers, students deserve safety, and society deserves the truth,” Naik asserted and questioned, “How many more young lives must be lost before action replaces silence?”