In Brief
The Supreme Court held that police must register an FIR when a complaint discloses a cognizable offence, even if the death appears to be suicide. The Court rejected the Delhi Police's approach of conducting only an inquest inquiry under Section 174 CrPC without registering an FIR in cases involving student deaths at IIT Delhi. When complaints allege offences including abetment to suicide and caste-based atrocities under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, FIR registration is mandatory and cannot be delayed. The Court directed immediate FIR registration and investigation. Notably, the Court constituted a National Task Force to address the rising epidemic of student suicides in higher educational institutions across India, highlighting systemic failures in providing mental health support and preventing discrimination.
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