Why Only in Kota? Supreme Court Slams Rajasthan Govt Over Rising Student Suicides
The Supreme Court on Friday sharply criticised the Rajasthan government over the spate of student suicides in Kota, asking why the tragic phenomenon is occurring almost exclusively in the coaching hub and questioning the state’s apparent inaction.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan termed the situation “very serious” and demanded accountability from the authorities. At least 14 students have taken their lives in Kota so far this year, according to official data.
“What are you doing as a state? Why are these children dying by suicide and only in Kota? Have you not given it a thought as a state?” Justice Pardiwala asked the counsel representing Rajasthan during the hearing.
The court was addressing petitions linked to the deaths of two students — one from IIT Kharagpur and another, a NEET aspirant from Kota. The bench was particularly disturbed by the failure to register a First Information Report (FIR) in the Kota case.
“You are in contempt of our judgment,” the court said, referring to its earlier directive requiring registration of FIRs in such matters.
The justices sought a detailed status report on the actions of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the Kota suicides. They also summoned a police officer from Kota to appear before the court on July 14 to explain the apparent delay in lodging the FIR.
“Why was there a four-day delay in lodging the FIR? These are very serious things. Don’t take this lightly,” the court said in stern remarks. “We can take a very strict view on the matter — maybe even contempt — but we are refraining from saying anything further at this stage.”
In a March 24 verdict, the apex court had already acknowledged the mental health challenges faced by students across higher educational institutions. It had recommended a national task force to tackle rising student suicides and mandated early intervention strategies.
The court’s latest remarks have triggered widespread debate, with civil society and education experts urging state governments to overhaul the pressure-driven coaching ecosystem in Kota — often dubbed India’s “coaching capital.”
Mental health professionals have long called for structural changes in the way competitive exams are approached, citing rising stress, isolation, and fear of failure as leading causes of student distress.
