A Saket Court staff member, who died by suicide in January, was born with a 60 percent physical disability. In a note found after his death, he requested lighter duties for individuals with disabilities, the Law Ministry told Lok Sabha.
A staff member at Saket Court, who died by suicide in January, was born with a 60 percent physical disability. In a note found after his death, he requested that lighter duties be assigned to individuals with disabilities, according to information shared by the Union Law Ministry in the Lok Sabha .
This disclosure came in response to inquiries from Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Sanjay Haribhao Jadhav and Arvind Ganpat Sawant. The Ministry reported that the suicide note cited work-related pressure as a contributing factor and emphasized that no individual was deemed responsible for the tragic event.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, conveyed the details.
He said,
“The deceased, who was 60% physically handicapped by birth, requested that light duties be assigned to persons with disabilities.”
Earlier, On January 9, around 10:23 AM, a PCR call was made regarding an individual who had fallen from the terrace of the main building at the Saket Court Complex.
Upon arrival, the police found that the injured person had already been taken to Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute in Malviya Nagar, where he was pronounced dead.
The deceased has been identified as Harish Singh Mahar, who was employed at the Saket District Court. According to police officials, Mahar had been facing prolonged mental distress linked to his professional responsibilities.
A suicide note recovered from the scene stated that Mahar was ending his life due to intense office work pressure. In the note, he clarified that the decision was made of his own free will and that no individual should be held responsible.
Mahar wrote that he had been experiencing suicidal thoughts since taking charge as an Ahlmad, a court record-keeper or clerk attached to a judge. He said he chose not to share his mental condition with anyone, believing he would be able to cope on his own, but was ultimately unable to do so.
The note revealed that Mahar had been suffering from severe sleep deprivation and constant overthinking due to work stress. He also mentioned that the option of early retirement added to his anxiety, as it would prevent him from accessing his savings and pension benefits until the age of 60.
This financial uncertainty, combined with professional pressure and health challenges, reportedly worsened his mental condition.
Additionally, Delhi Police confirmed that the body has been taken into custody and that further investigation is underway. Officials said standard legal procedures are being followed in the matter.
When asked about the number of similar incidents, the Centre stated that it does not keep a record of suicides occurring in court complexes over the past five years.
The Law Ministry affirmed that ensuring the safety and security of all individuals within court complexes is a priority. Nonetheless, it clarified that the management and security of courts are the responsibilities of State governments and Union Territories, in collaboration with the respective High Courts.