Bengaluru: The state govt has directed all higher education institutions (HEIs) to immediately report student suicide or unnatural death to jurisdictional police, irrespective of where the incident occurs.The directive seeks to operationalise the directions of Supreme Court on safeguarding students’ mental health. The order applies to state-run and private universities, colleges, residential institutions, PG accommodation and hostels as well.As per the directive, the institutions must report such incidents immediately after becoming aware of them, even if they occur outside their campuses, hostels, paying guest (PG) accommodations or elsewhere. They must report them to the state govt departments, respective statutory and regulatory bodies.The govt has also mandated that residential HEIs provide round-the-clock access to qualified medical assistance, either on campus or through a recognised medical facility located within a 1km radius. This is intended to ensure prompt attention to medical and mental health emergencies.The circular further directs the institutions to ensure that scholarships are disbursed to eligible students without delay. Students cannot be prevented from attending classes or appearing for examinations, nor can their hostel access, marks cards, degree certificates or other academic credentials be withheld because of delays in scholarship disbursement.The institutions have also been directed to strictly comply with UGC regulations on anti-ragging measures, equity, prevention and redressal of sexual harassment, and student grievance redressal, along with other applicable statutory guidelines.All HEIs will have to submit quarterly and annual compliance reports to the state administrative departments concerned within the stipulated timelines.
