The Supreme Court of India has issued nine directives to address student suicides, emphasizing the need for systemic improvements in higher education. The Court's actions are grounded in Article 142 of the Constitution, primarily focusing on record-keeping, reporting, and tracking of suicides in higher education institutions (HEIs).
Key Directives and Concerns
- Seven of the nine directives involve meticulous documentation of suicides in HEIs, highlighting the importance of data-driven approaches to tackle student distress.
- Two critical directives demand the filling of vacancies for Registrars, Vice-Chancellors, and faculty positions, addressing the issue of staffing inadequacies in public HEIs.
Context and Implications
The Supreme Court's intervention is crucial as many public HEIs, particularly universities, face up to 50% vacancies in faculty positions.
Case Study: University of Madras
- The University of Madras, a lead HEI in Tamil Nadu, exemplifies the crisis with no new faculty appointments in the past decade and existing strength at half of the sanctioned capacity.
- Research, once a hallmark, is now diminished, with advanced studies centers in philosophy, botany, and mathematics not operating at full potential.
- Vice-Chancellor appointments are stalled due to gubernatorial delays, exacerbating administrative challenges.
Challenges and Recommendations
- The Court's timeline of four months for the implementation of the directives seems ambitious, urging immediate action.
- The process of filling faculty positions requires adherence to UGC protocols, potentially necessitating Union government support for budgetary allocations.
- Addressing issues such as corruption and political-ideological interference in appointments is crucial to enhance quality.
The Court's directives call for foundational improvements in public higher education structures, essential for achieving long-term goals like Viksit Bharat.
