NMC directs medical colleges to report student suicides, fill vacant posts, submit monthly ATRs
National Medical Commission
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has ordered the medical colleges to maintain updated records of all cases of student suicides or unnatural deaths. The institutes have also been directed to fill vacant teaching, non-teaching and administrative posts, and maintain updated records regarding sanctioned strength.
The advisory comes in compliance with the Supreme Court's directive in Amit Kumar & Others vs. Union of India & Others, where the top court had taken cognizance of a disturbing pattern of student suicides being reported from various educational institutes.
Further, the Commission has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR), duly certified by the Head of the Institution, in the prescribed Reporting Format to the NMC by the end of every month.
In another directive, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC directed the Union/State Governments and Union Territories to ensure that the requisite compliance is completed well in advance of 01.09.2026, when the matter is likely to be taken up by the Supreme Court next.
As per the directive, the Compliance/Action Taken Report shall include the name of the HEI, reporting of student suicides/unnatural deaths to the police authorities, annual reporting of student suicides/unnatural deaths to the UGC and other regulatory boes, 24×7 access to qualified medical assistance (on campus/ within 1 km, filling of all vacant faculty positions within 4 months and special recruitment drives for reserved posts, filling of key administrative posts within 4 months and Annual report, Reserved post filled Vacant and its reasons, time taken, backlog of pending Scholarship Disbursement Cleared within 4 months and compliance with UGC Regulations.
NMC said that it would consolidate the information received from the institutes for monitoring compliance with the Apex Court's directives and for submission to the Ministry of Education.
Supreme Court's Cognisance and Constitution of National Task Force:
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year the Supreme Court had ordered the constitution of a National Task Force (NTF) to address the mental health concerns of the students, after taking cognisance of a disturbing pattern of student suicides being reported from various educational institutes.
In its order dated March 24, 2025, the Apex Court had set up the task force under the Ministry of Education to examine the causes of student distress, discuss preventive strategies, and recommend measures to promote emotional well-being in campuses across the country.
The Task Force, headed by former Supreme Court judge S. Ravindra Bhat, previously submitted its interim report and consequently, the Court issued several directions requiring immediate action by government, regulators, and institutes. After the top court order dated 15.01.2026, the National Medical Commission had asked all medical colleges and institutions under its jurisdiction to take immediate steps to address student mental health concerns and prevent suicides on campuses.
Directions were issued to maintain accurate records of student suicides or other unnatural deaths, residential medical institutes were asked to ensure round-the-clock medical and emergency health services, and colleges were also directed to fill all vacant teaching and non-teaching posts within four months, clear pending scholarship disbursements, and strengthen statutory bodies such as anti-ragging committees, internal complaints committees and student grievance redressal mechanisms.
Consequently, in its order dated 30.07.2026, the Supreme Court directed all Union/States/Union Territories to file compliance/action-taken reports in the enclosed format in the form of a compliance affidavit on or before 01.09.2026. Accordingly, the Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education, on 10.08.2026 issued a directive in this regard to the NMC to comply with this directive.
Directive by PGMEB:
Referring to the Ministry of Education's directive dated 10.08.2026, the NMC Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) wrote to the Principals/Secretaries of the Department of Health and Medical Education of all States/UTs and the Director of Medical Education and Training of all States/UTs and mentioned, "I am to refer to the D.O. letter No. 5-21/2025-PNII (Part-III) dated 10.08.2026, issued by the Joint Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, Government of India, requesting compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India vide Order dated 15.01.2026 in Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2025, Amit Kumar & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors. concerning the mental health and well-being of students and prevention of suicides in Higher Educational Institutions (HEls)."
PGMEB added that the Supreme Court has sought Compliance Affidavits on or before 01.09.2026 and accordingly asked the medical colleges to file Action Taken Reports (ATR) as on 29.07.2026.
"The Hon'ble Supreme Court, vide order dated 30.07.2026, has directed the Union/State Governments and Union Territories to file Compliance Affidavits on or before 01.09.2026. Accordingly, the Compliance/Action Taken Report as on 29.07.2026 may kindly be filed in the enclosed prescribed format, after obtaining and duly verifying the requisite information from all HEls under the respective administrative jurisdiction," it stated.
"The report should be complete, accurate, duly verified and supported by relevant records, wherever applicable, and may file the Compliance Affidavit before the Hon'ble Supreme Court well within the stipulated timeline," it added.
The Commission directed that one set of the compliance affidavit be submitted to the Ministry of Education and the Amicus Curiae, and a soft copy of the Compliance/Action Taken Report to the NMC.
"Further, in terms of paragraph 45 (iv) of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's Order dated 15.01.2026, one set of the Compliance Affidavit, along with all relevant annexures/documents, may kindly be provided to Ministry of Education and the learned Amicus Curiae well in advance, before the matter is taken up by the Hon'ble Court on 01.09.2026. A soft copy of the Compliance/Action Taken Report and Compliance Affidavit, along with relevant supporting documents, may also be forwarded to the National Medical Commission," the PGMEB said.
"It may kindly be noted that the matter is time-bound and requires immediate attention, as the Compliance Affidavit is required to be filed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court within the stipulated timeline. The Union/State Governments and Union Territories are, therefore, requested to ensure that the requisite compliance is completed well in advance of 01.09.2026, without fail," it directed.
"Copies of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's Orders dated 15.01.2026 and 30.07.2026 are enclosed for ready reference and necessary compliance...The matter may kindly be accorded TOP PRIORITY, and the requisite compliance may be ensured well in advance of 01.09.2026, without fail," further mentioned the PGMEB Directive.
NMC Notice:
On 23.08.2026, NMC issued a notice for compliance with the Supreme Court's directive regarding the reporting of student suicides/unnatural deaths, filling of faculty and administrative vacancies, maintenance of institutional records, and submission of updated information.
The Commission also referred to the Directions issued by the Ministry of Education and mentioned, "Further, the Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, vide its Office Memorandum No. 5-21/2026-PN.II dated 15.06.2026 and subsequent letter No. 5-21/2025-PN. II dated 30.07.2026 (copies enclosed), has requested all Regulatory Bodies to ensure strict compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The Ministry has also requested that institutions maintain updated records and relevant data, as the matter is presently sub-judice before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and an Action Taken Report (ATR) on compliance may be sought by the Hon'ble Court at any stage."
Accordingly, NMC has issued a directive to the medical colleges and institutes stating:
"In view of the above and keeping in mind the binding directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, all Medical Colleges and Medical Institutions under the purview of the National Medical Commission are hereby advised to take immediate and time-bound action to: a. Take necessary & time-bound steps for filling up vacant teaching, nonteaching and key administrative posts, as per applicable rules, in accordance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. b. Maintain updated records relating to sanctioned strength, filled posts, vacancies, reserved-category vacancies, recruitment status, reasons for nonfilling, and timelines for filling vacant posts; c. Maintain updated records of all cases of student suicides or unnatural deaths and ensure timely reporting to the National Medical Commission."
The Commission has further directed that an Action Taken Report (ATR), duly certified by the Head of the Institution, be submitted to the NMC in the Reporting Format by the end of every month.
"The information received from the institutions will be consolidated by the National Medical Commission for monitoring compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and for submission to the Ministry of Education, Government of India, as and when required. The matter may be treated as MOST URGENT and accorded top priority," the notice stated.
The concerned formats are attached in the notice below.
