Rajasthan High Court Demands Mental Health Reform in Schools

The Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has issued notices to both the Centre and the Rajasthan government following a public interest litigation (PIL) that calls for comprehensive mental health support in educational institutions across the state. The bench, composed of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Purohit, demands a response to this urgent issue within eight weeks.

The PIL, spearheaded by Kota-based advocate Sujeet Swami and seven other mental health experts from Rajasthan, Haryana, and Karnataka, seeks trained psychological counsellors and mental health centers in all educational settings, citing alarming suicide rates among youth. Filed on August 1, 2025, the petition underscores the lack of a mandatory mental health curriculum, despite existing guidelines that advocate for such provisions.

The court's notice calls upon various authorities, including the Union of India and the Directorates of School and Higher Education in Rajasthan, to propose strategies for improving student well-being. An analysis of data from 2015 to 2023 reveals distressing suicide statistics among youths, prompting urgent calls for reform and alignment with India's National Education Policy's emphasis on holistic education and mental health.