Educational institutions in India are facing scrutiny as around 98 students have reportedly taken their lives since 2018, with 39 from IITs, 25 from NITs, 25 from central universities, and four from IIMs. The Supreme Court has expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation from 57,000 educational institutes, including many prestigious ones, in a survey aimed at addressing this alarming issue.

Senior advocate Aparna Bhat, assisting the court, revealed that 17 IITs, 15 IIMs, 16 AIIMS, and 24 NITs have not responded to the survey despite multiple reminders. Only about 3,500 institutes have participated so far. The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of this survey, stating, "This entire exercise is being undertaken in the interest of the students and it is expected of all these institutes to render their full cooperation."

The court has directed the Centre to remind these institutions once again to participate in the survey. The bench, comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, warned that failure to cooperate could lead to unfavorable orders for the institutes. Senior advocate Harish Salve offered to engage with IITs to encourage their participation, which the court appreciated.

The Supreme Court has appointed a multi-disciplinary task force, led by retired judge Ravindra Bhat, to analyze the causes of student suicides. This panel includes experts in psychiatry and clinical psychology and aims to identify factors such as academic pressure, discrimination, and mental health stigma that contribute to this crisis.

Additionally, the court addressed concerns regarding delays in scholarship disbursements for scheduled caste students and sought explanations from the Centre. The Supreme Court's actions highlight the urgent need for educational institutions to take student welfare seriously and participate in efforts to prevent further tragedies.