Jitendra Kumar, facing multiple legal battles, set himself on fire near Parliament after traveling to Delhi to seek relief from the Supreme Court. Burdened by ongoing court cases and unable to continue his education, Kumar was deeply troubled. This tragic incident reflects his frustration and hopelessness. The authorities are looking into the matter.
Jitendra Kumar, who sustained 90% burn injuries after setting himself on fire near Parliament on Wednesday, had informed his family that he was traveling from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, to Delhi to file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking relief in three ongoing legal cases.
His father, Mahipal, told that Kumar had asked his mother for Rs. 500, stating he was going to Delhi.
Mahipal explained,
“He had visited Delhi several times and usually returned by afternoon, so we didn’t suspect anything,”
The family noted that Kumar, a BCom graduate pursuing an LLB degree, had been unable to continue his studies due to the ongoing cases and had been forced to work as a laborer.
Mahipal said,
“My son was depressed because of the cases and police investigation,”
They learned about the incident on Wednesday evening and quickly travelled to Delhi from their village, Patti Dhandhan Chhaprauli.
According to police, Kumar went to Delhi seeking free legal assistance. Officers recovered a burnt bag containing documents indicating his alleged involvement in three cases dating back to May 2021, April 2022, and May 2024, all related to a dispute with another party and for which he had been charge sheeted.
Kumar reportedly brought petrol from home.
An officer stated,
“He had a bike from which he took the petrol and then traveled to Delhi,”
Police also discovered a general class train ticket worth Rs.15 from Baraut to Shahdara. Kumar arrived in Delhi at 1 PM on Wednesday and wandered around until he attempted self-immolation around 3:30 PM.
The officer added,
“He sat on the footpath, took out a bottle from his bag, poured petrol on himself, and set himself on fire,”
Kumar’s struggle shows the emotional stress caused by long legal battles in India. Delayed court cases, financial difficulties, and lack of proper legal support often make people feel helpless. In Kumar’s case, the delay in resolving his issues worsened his mental health, pushing him to take this extreme step.
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Jitendra Kumar’s tragic story reminds us of the heavy cost of inefficiencies in India’s judicial system and mental health services. His actions, driven by personal pain, reflect bigger problems that need urgent attention. Speedy justice, better mental health support, and addressing the reasons behind such incidents must become priorities for the government and the judiciary.
India’s judicial system is often criticized for its backlog of cases, with millions of litigations still pending. For people like Kumar, the wait for justice feels endless, adding to their struggles and leaving them without hope.