‘Very tough, unable to sleep’: How heavy workload, ignored transfer requests led to clerk’s suicide at Saket court; protests erupt

NEW DELHI: A 43-year-old ahlmad posted at the Saket Court Complex died by suicide on Friday morning on the court premises, police sources said, triggering protests by court staff who cited severe work pressure and chronic staff shortage in the district judiciary.

Harish Mahar, described by his colleagues as a "jolly" and dedicated worker, was 60% handicapped because of his hunched back. A note that police found in his pocket outlined his frustration because of his work pressure, his desire for a posting that was less strenuous and his inability to retire. "Even if I take early retirement, I shall receive my savings or pension at the age of 60. So suicide is my only option," he wrote.


Mahar, a 2010-batch ahlmad, had recently been promoted and posted in a digital NI court. Some court staff said that he had repeatedly requested for a transfer to posting with less workload because of his condition. "He had applied at least four times for a transfer, but his requests were not considered," a staff member said.

Originally from Faridabad, Mahar is survived by his 94-year-old father. Police said that he had been working in the particular court complex for the last three months following his promotion.

The note said Mahar was ending his life due to "office work pressure". He was acting out of his "own free will" and "no one is responsible" for his death, the note read. Being a "60% handicapped person," the job was "very tough," on him and he was unable to sleep, he mentioned in the letter.

According to security personnel in the comples, Mahar took the drastic step at 10.17 am. He was taken to PSRI Hospital around 10.24 am, where he was declared dead.

The body was handed over to police in the afternoon.

Ahlmads typically handle the bulk of the clerical and administrative paperwork of a court. Colleagues said Mahar was handling an unusually heavy load. According to staff, he was burdened with around 4,000 case files in the court of Nandini Garg, judicial magistrate first class, digital traffic court.

Ahlmads and other court staff began a sit-in protest outside the court at 11.30 am. Former secretary of the Saket Court Bar Association, Dhir Singh Kasana, said: "The system needs to change for the court staff who help in running the courts, and lessen the burden for the judiciary."

Others said Mahar's death was not an isolated incident, but reflected the systemic strain on court staff.

Sanjay Rathi, co-chairman of the Delhi Bar Council, termed the incident as "deeply unfortunate" and warned that disproportionate staffing, despite available infrastructure, ultimately becomes a hindrance to the administration of justice.

Representatives of the Saket court staff union met Gurvinder Pal Singh, the principal district and sessions judge (south).