14 Deaths In 2025, 'Serious' Issue: Rajasthan HC On Lack Of Legislation To Regulate Coaching Institutes Amid Rise In Student Suicides

In the matter of suo moto cognizance in relation to increasing suicides in coaching institutes, particularly in Kota, Rajasthan High Court expressed serious concern over the matter, highlighting that no legislation has been framed by the State despite the PIL being pending since 2016.The division bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Mukesh Rajpurohit highlighted that it had been passing various orders from time to time to bring about change in the “sorry state of affairs”.Earlier, the order notes, a prayer was made to make appropriate arrangement of interim nature by enforcing the guidelines framed by the Central Government till appropriate legislation comes in place. The court further noted:"We also find that in the year 2025 itself, about 14 suicides have taken place. This is a matter of serious concern for us. This Court has been passing various orders from time to time to bring about a change in the sorry state of affairs which is reflected from series of directions which have been issued by this Court on previous dates," it said.The court noted that there was an opposition to the prayer for putting in place the guidelines issued by the Central Government till appropriate legislation is made from the side of one of the respondents, who is running a coaching institute at Kota. The respondent had submitted that on account of the Supreme Court taking cognizance of the issue of suicides being committed in educational institutes/coaching institutes, the case was listed for May 23, 2025 in the Apex Court. In light of this, the respondent was contemplating moving an application seeking transfer of the Suo-Moto PIL before the Court too, for hearing at the Supreme Court. Hence, it was prayed before the Court to await further orders by the Supreme Court before proceeding in the matter. Taking into account the submissions by the respondent and the cognizance taken by the Supreme Court, the Court decided to defer its order for implementation of guidelines by the State in the interim."Since no legislation has been framed despite pendency of this petition since 2016, this Court was inclined to issue appropriate directions for implementation of the guidelines of the Central Government till appropriate legislation comes in place by passing a detailed order today itself, taking into consideration the gravity of the situation. We are however inclined to defer passing further orders in the matter in view of what has been stated by learned counsel for the respondents that on the issue of deaths having taken place in Kota, cognizance has been taken by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the matter would again be coming up for consideration on 23.05.2025 and further taking into consideration that the Counsel state that they seek to apply to the Hon'ble Supreme Court for transfer of this case also," it said. The matter has been listed after two weeks from the date of the order.Title: Suo Moto v State of Rajasthan, and other connected petitionClick Here To Read/Download Order

14 Deaths In 2025, 'Serious' Issue: Rajasthan HC On Lack Of Legislation To Regulate Coaching Institutes Amid Rise In Student Suicides

Nupur Agrawal

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