SC terms rising suicide cases as social issue, seeks Centre's response on PIL

Terming the rising number of suicides a “social issue”, the Supreme Court on Thursday granted four weeks to the Centre for filing a comprehensive reply to a PIL seeking effective implementation of a public health programme for prevention and reduction of suicides.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of lawyer and petitioner Gaurav Kumar Bansal that effective steps are needed to deal with the rising number of suicide cases and asked the Centre to file a comprehensive affidavit.

“It is a social issue, let them (Centre and authorities) file a counter affidavit,” the CJI said.