Delhi High Court Refuses To Order FIR Over Saket Court Staffer Suicide, Cites Ongoing Administrative Action

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to order FIR over a recent incident wherein a 43-year-old differently-abled ahlmad jumped to death and committed suicide at the Saket Courts, allegedly citing “work pressure”.

Calling the incident unfortunate, a division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia remarked that they were conscious of the situation and that steps as warranted are being taken.

The Court was hearing a PIL filed by Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust, seeking registration of FIR over the incident, a judicial inquiry as well as filling up of vacancies of the clerical staff in Delhi district courts.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner said that the ahlmad had applied for transfer four times before he committed suicide. On Court's asking, he said that the basis of the said information was media report.

On this, CJ remarked: “If the statement made by the staff based on which Times of India has published the report is incorrect, then what? You must know that he was posted as ahlmad only in November. He was posted on this post on promotion only in November. The posy he held earlier involved less strenuous work… and he was posted in a court which was completely digitized. Therefore to say that he was handling 3,000 files, the allegations appear to… it attracts public attention but it is not correct.”

The Court further said that proceedings have been initiated under Section 194 of BNSS over the incident, based on which further action will be taken.

“The High Court administration is conscious about the vacancies and on administrative side we are taking all possible action. We have ordered an audit of the vacancy positions and the requirement as per work. We are conscious and acting on it,” CJ said.

“To rationalize the cadre structure, we have ordered audit. Steps are being taken to conduct such audit. Depending on the report we will act upon it. In addition, the relief which is legally permissible is also being extended to the family of the deceased employee. I don't think anything is lacking,” he added.

The counsel appearing for the High Court administration said that steps are being taken to fill up the vacancies and to make overall assessment of staff and for rationalising distribution of work among class 3 and other employees.

“Such course of action shall be evolved within the shortest span and adequate steps will be taken to fill up the vacancies at the earliest. The writ petition is disposed of,” the Court said.

Title: Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust v. High Court & Ors