New Delhi, May 15 -- Taking strong exception to the four-day delay in filing FIR following the suicide committed by a student at IIT Kharagpur, the Supreme Court has directed the IIT official concerned and the Officer-in-Charge of the local police station to appear before it at the next hearing to explain the lapse.

A Bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan was hearing the matter as part of the ongoing proceedings addressing the alarming rise in student suicides in higher educational institutions. The Court had earlier issued detailed directions aimed at mental health reform and suicide prevention in academic settings.

The Bench expressed concern over the delayed action by the authorities, noting: "We are informed th...