Jealousy Led To 'Mental Depravity': MP High Court Refuses To Suspend Sentence For Sibling's Murder, Calls For Mental Health Policy

In a case involving the alleged murder of a woman by her sister, the Madhya Pradesh High Court observed that the incident appeared to be one of mental depravity arising out of sibling jealousy. Thus, the division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Ratnesh Chandra Singh Bisen underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive mental health policy with special focus on youth and the elderly. The bench directed, "Let a copy of this order be supplied to the Chief Secretary of the State to frame a policy in regard to issues of mental health of its citizens with special focus on youth and elderly and direct the concerned departments to take appropriate action for establishment of Mental Health Clinics equipped with competent persons & infrastructure in schools and colleges so also atleast in District hospitals of the State within its resources within a time bound manner, with a action taken report to be submitted to this Court within ninety days". An application was filed seeking suspension of sentence and grant of bail to appellants 1 (sister of the deceased) and 2. The appeal was filed challenging the judgment of the Sessions Court convicting the appellants for Murder (Section 302), causing disappearance of evidence (Section 201) and Criminal Conspiracy (Section 120B). Per the prosecution's case, the medical report of the deceased revealed that she was stabbed in the head and neck and died due to shock and haemorrhage. Whereas the sister claimed that the deceased slipped in the bathroom and died. The counsel for the appellants claimed that there was no evidence and no reason to doubt the version of the sister and mother of the deceased. The counsel for the State highlighted that the sister of the deceased suffered from a complex, as the deceased was given more importance, giving rise to enmity and jealousy. The court noted that the knife was recovered from the house of the sister. Thus, the bench granted liberty to the appellants to withdraw the application. However, before concluding the matter, the bench directed the State to appoint medical experts in schools and colleges and to ensure availability in at least one district level hospitals. The bench directed; "However, before parting, it will be appropriate for us to direct the authorities of the State to make an endevour to appoint Mental Health Experts in schools and colleges and ensure their availability in atleast district level hospitals because present appears to be a case of mental depravity arising out of sibling jealousy which needs to be addressed before it takes unruly dimensions in the society". Case Title: Khushboo and others v State of Madhya Pradesh [CRA-2990-2025]For Appellants: Advocate Neelima Giri Goswami For State: Government Advocate B.K. UpadhyayClick here to read/download the Order

Jealousy Led To 'Mental Depravity': MP High Court Refuses To Suspend Sentence For Sibling's Murder, Calls For Mental Health Policy

Jayanti Pahwa

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