Landmark Supreme Court Verdict: Sukdeb Saha vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh
In July 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a significant verdict in the case of Sukdeb Saha vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh, driven by the tragedy of a father's loss of his 17-year-old daughter, a NEET candidate, at a Visakhapatnam hostel and his quest for a CBI inquiry.
Key Highlights
- The Supreme Court transferred the investigation to the CBI and recognized mental health as an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
- The case spotlights India's epidemic of student suicides, framing them as issues of structural victimisation due to systemic neglect and exploitative educational practices.
- Acknowledged students as victims of a failing education system and social values that correlate self-esteem with hierarchy.
Mental Health and Legal Implications
- While the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 enshrines the right to mental healthcare, its inconsistent implementation is addressed by the Court's ruling.
- The Court introduced the "Saha Guidelines," mandating educational institutions to establish mental health support systems and forming district-level monitoring committees.
Criminological Perspectives
- The ruling raises questions of state responsibility and structural violence, aligning with Johan Galtung’s theory that structures causing systematic harm are as blameworthy as direct violence.
- Reframes student suicides from individual failures to systemic injustices, advocating for restorative measures like counselling and institutional reforms.
Impacts and Challenges
- Recognizes students' mental well-being as a constitutional right, challenging existing educational and social norms.
- Calls for meaningful implementation of guidelines and resource investment by schools, universities, and state governments to ensure real mental health support.
- The judgment is seen as revolutionary but necessitates caution regarding its practical application and enforcement.
The case serves as a convergence of law, criminology, and victimology, highlighting the role of institutions and systems in producing harm and asserting students' rights to mental well-being as part of the right to life.
