Ritik Kumar · September 18, 2025 
Delhi High Court Demands Stronger Anti-Ragging Helpline Amid Rising Student Suicides
The Delhi High Court expressed serious concern over the alarming rise in student suicides across higher educational institutions and directed authorities to set up a robust, fully functional anti-ragging helpline. Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal stressed that immediate action is necessary to protect vulnerable students.
The court issued this directive while hearing petitions filed by the Aman Satya Kachroo Trust, which has long campaigned against ragging after tragic incidents. The Trust raised concerns about the National Ragging Prevention Programme. It had managed the program since 2012, but the government recently handed it over to the Centre for Youth Society (C4Y) through a new tender.
Referring to data from the National Crime Records Bureau and the All-India Survey on Higher Education, the bench noted that India reports over 13,000 student suicides every year. The number surpasses farmer suicides and shows a disturbing 4% annual increase—double the national average. The judges also highlighted several cases in premier institutes, including IITs and medical colleges, as signs of the deepening crisis.
The Court criticized delays and inefficiencies in anti-ragging mechanisms, particularly the dysfunctional helpline, which leaves students without timely support. It instructed authorities to put in place effective, well-monitored frameworks and reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s earlier emphasis on student welfare and mental health.
Although the Court did not cancel C4Y’s contract, which runs until December 2025, it announced plans to review the tender process in line with recommendations from the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force. The judges urged immediate reforms to prevent further loss of young lives.
This decision underscores the urgent need for institutions and policymakers to strengthen anti-ragging initiatives, expand mental health support, and build safer, more supportive campuses where students can thrive without fear.
