The Delhi High Court has ordered a comprehensive audit of court staff vacancies and workload after a court record keeper’s suicide at the Saket District Court. The Bench said it is aware of staff working conditions and is taking administrative action.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday acknowledged the working conditions faced by court staff and ordered an audit of vacancies and workload across Delhi courts, following the tragic suicide of a court staffer at Saket District Court.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia stated that the High Court is fully conscious of the issues concerning court staff and has initiated administrative measures to address them.
Calling the incident “unfortunate,” Chief Justice Upadhyaya observed that the High Court administration acted promptly after the death of the staffer.
“We are conscious, we have ordered an audit of the vacancies and workload on court staff after the court staffer committed suicide,”
the Chief Justice remarked.
The Bench clarified that steps are being taken to rationalise cadre strength, workload distribution, and staffing requirements, and that action will be taken based on the audit report within the shortest possible time.
The Court also noted that permissible relief has already been extended to the family of the deceased, and assured that no lapse occurred on the administrative front.
“We immediately swung into action. I don’t think anything is lacking,”
the Bench stated.
The matter arose after a 35-year-old court staffer, employed as an Ahlmad (court record keeper) at Delhi’s Saket District Court, died by suicide on January 9. According to police, the staffer jumped from a building within the court premises and was declared dead at the hospital.
A suicide note recovered from the spot reportedly cited extreme work pressure and mental stress. The deceased stated that he took the step of his own volition and did not hold anyone responsible. He also mentioned being around 60% differently-abled and facing difficulties due to workload and financial constraints that prevented him from opting for early retirement.
Following the incident, Anand Legal Aid Forum filed a petition before the Delhi High Court seeking directions to fill vacancies in Delhi courts, reduce workload on staff, and register an FIR into the death.
However, the High Court noted that proceedings under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (unnatural death) have already been initiated.
“Postmortem is being conducted, its report is awaited and these proceedings are conducted by the Executive Magistrate,”
the Bench observed.
In light of the ongoing proceedings, the Court declined to issue directions for registration of an FIR at this stage.
Addressing reports suggesting excessive workload, the Bench noted that the deceased was promoted as an Ahlmad only in November and had earlier performed more strenuous duties. It was also pointed out that he was posted in a fully digitised court, and that claims about handling thousands of files required proper contextual understanding.
Recording the assurances given by the High Court administration, the Bench disposed of the petition, expressing confidence that the audit and staffing reforms would be completed expeditiously.
“We have no doubt that adequate steps will be taken based on the outcome of the audit,”
the Court said.
