The Madras High Court today observed that continuous monitoring by a counselling committee be set up by educational institutions to analyze social, economical, psychological, medical and legal factors that clouds the students with a feeling of depression.
Closing a suo motu petition on suicides/deaths of students in private educational institutions in Puducherry, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan said "we are of the view that such continuous monitoring is necessary taking into consideration the complexities of life and challenges faced especially by younger generation".
"This is compounded by the parental expectations and at times, difficulty in coping up with higher educational curriculum. It is not necessary that every child is academically oriented and if a different opportunity is available, diversion towards that field of studies with better parental understanding would certainly reduce the pressures".
This is, however, a problem of the society at large, which the courts can hardly monitor", the bench said.
The suo motu petition sought a direction to the Chief Secretary, Puducherry, Higher Education Secretary and DGP to monitor private higher educational institutions under the purview of Government of Puducherry wherein students are facing mental, physical and sexual harassments and the deaths in these institutions.
It also sought a direction to conduct a judicial inquiry by High Court Judge to probe into the death of students in the recent years in higher educational institutions in Puducherry and to take immediate steps to ensure safety and security of the students.
Going through the data submitted in the counter affidavit, the bench said "what emerges is that out of 42 cases of reported deaths of students in various institutions, 10 were found to be due to health problems, 13 are reported as accident while 19 cases are reported to be suicidal deaths."
"It is conceded that as against all India rate of suicide of 11.0 during the year 2013 per lack population, Puducherry had a higher rate of 35.6 and it is thus more than three times the national average. The authorities are aware of the problems and have examined the rationale and are endeavouring to monitor it. We are of the view that such continuous monitoring is necessary", the bench said.
