The Delhi police have collected a week’s worth of CCTV footage from St. Columba’s School as part of the investigation into the death of its 16-year-old student by suicide on November 19, a senior officer said on Friday.
The student took the extreme step following “mental harassment”, sparking protests by parents and students outside the school in Ashok Place near Gole Market on Thursday. Protests outside the school continued on Friday.
A day after the incident, the police registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to abetment to suicide and common intention against three teachers and the headmistress for alleged ill-treatment of the Class 10 student who had named them in a note recovered from his bag.
The police have summoned all four, who were placed under temporary suspension following Thursday’s protests, for interrogation.
On Friday, the police questioned five of the deceased student’s classmates, some of whom were also named in the note as witnesses to his harassment, the officer said.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) issued a notice to the District Magistrate and the Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned on Friday.
It sought a probe into the allegations against the school and an action taken report within 10 days.
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Friday said he is looking into the matter as a “concerned parent”. “We have formed an inquiry committee to investigate the case. My government will work to ensure the mental well-being of our future generations,” he said.
Mr. Sood added that all schools will be asked to submit a report on their compliance with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)’s directives on psychological well-being of students.
“I will soon write to all the schools to find out if they are complying with the directives. Our government will handhold the schools facing challenges in implementing these measures,” he said.
The CBSE had prepared its 83-page manual on mental health in 2020 to “develop coping skills and revitalising behaviours” that create “non-threatening school spaces and promote sound mental health”.
The 83-page manual emphasises the roles of counsellors and special educators in schools and highlights the importance of teachers’ and caregivers’ wellness to the mental well-being of students, while also outlining the roles of community, family, and school. The manual has 10 chapters on various aspects, including specific mental health conditions, their risk factors, adolescence and psychological support. It also suggests activities for both children (Classes 1 to 5 ) and adolescents (Class 6 and above) to promote their mental health.
(For those in distress, counselling is available at TeleMANAS-14416)
Published – November 22, 2025 01:04 am IST
