Maharashtra Government has formed a committee of academic experts for formulating strategy for varsities to suggest measures on guiding students on academic issues to prevent their suicides as they are unable to overcome pressure while pursuing higher studies. The 11-member committee is going to be headed by Dr Hemlata Bagla, Chancellor, HSNC University, Mumbai, while Dr Sunil Patil, Director, Student Welfare Cell, Mumbai University, has been named as Member Secretary. The committee has been given two months time to come up with recommendations. The State’s decision comes on direction of Supreme Court followed by circular by Union Law and Judiciary Department to take steps for constitution of cells to address issues faced by students during the course of higher studies. The Apex Court, during hearing of SLP in Sukhdeb vs Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Others through its order of July 25, 2025, directed Union Government to take steps to take corrective steps for dealing with students mental and health issues. Especially, the top court wanted measures to be in place that would provide guidance on students on how to overcome peer pressure, academic difficulties.

 

The same is meant to ensure a student is not forced to end the life for one’s inability to find a way out of academic problems. The committee is tasked with coming out with guidelines to guide colleges in State, non agriculture, to deal with student’s suicide cases. Union Government communicated apex’s court's decision to Chief Secretary on August 8, 2025, to frame policy wherein colleges act as first step in stemming the academic pressure faced by students while pursuing higher education courses. The notification by Department of Higher and Technical Education, Maharashtra Government, has appointed Director, Higher and Technical Education, Directorate of Education, Pune, as Nodal Officer, and he put up the proposal to set-up the high powered committee to come up with recommendations that can be taken up at college level.

 

The Members of the Committee nominated by State are Dr Asmita Chitnis, Ex-Director, Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune; Dr Nayna Nimkar, Director, Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences International University, Pune; Dr Neha Jagtiyani, Principal, RD & SH National College’s SWA Science College, Mumbai; Dr Asmita Huddar, Principal, Hashu Advani College of Special Education, Mumbai; Dr Vilas Padhaye, Principal, Psychology, Elphinstone College, Mumbai; Prof Rajendra Mhaske, HoD, Psychology, Savitribai Phule Pune University; Dr Alpana Vaidya, HoD, Psychology, Symbiosis Arts, Commerce and Science College, Pune; Dr Parveen Sayyed, Sr Law Officer, Savitribai Phule Pune University.

 

The Committee is assigned the work for preparing a draft for all non-agriculture varsities wherein the college affiliated to them can put in place mechanism to address pressure faced by students while pursuing higher education. Especially, the nature of facility to be in place at colleges for protecting the students, their mental health in particular, and mechanism to deal with their complaints. During discussion, the Committee must go through the measures suggested by Apex Court and suggest modalities for its practical working at ground level. Further, the guidelines framed by Union Education Ministry should also be studied to get clarity on the issue. Apart from that UGC, AICTE, and other higher education regulatory bodies have from time to time framed policies on dealing with the students academic pressure and take that into consideration. The Committee must also hold consultation with varsities, colleges, students and teacher, parents and administration so as to come up with comprehensive policy.