New Delhi: Employees of the Saket District Court on Saturday called off their proposed strike, which was prompted by the tragic suicide of a staffer, following a two-hour meeting with Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. The staff had initially planned to boycott work, citing excessive work pressure and demanding immediate intervention to prevent similar incidents.

The court employees’ protest was triggered by the death of Harish Singh Mahar, an Ahlmad posted in courtroom 27 of the NI Act digital court under Judge Nandini Garg. Mahar jumped from the fifth floor of the north wing, Block A of the Saket Court complex on Friday morning, according to police reports. Mahar, who had a 60 per cent disability, left a suicide note attributing his death to mental distress and unbearable work pressure.

Employee Protests and Initial Response

Following the incident, Saket Court staff staged protests inside the court complex. Employees walked out of their chambers and announced that they would abstain from work. They met with Principal District and Sessions Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh, urging him to take immediate action regarding their grievances. However, he directed them to file a writ petition instead, which further fueled discontent among the staff.

In response to the lack of immediate action, employees announced plans to boycott the Lok Adalat proceedings scheduled for Saturday, emphasizing the need for urgent redressal of their concerns over workload and staffing.

Meeting with Chief Justice and Strike Withdrawal

The strike was called off after a meeting with Chief Justice Upadhyaya, who, along with other senior judicial officers, listened to the employees’ grievances for nearly two hours and issued directions to address their concerns.

According to a circular issued by the District and Sessions Courts Employees Welfare Association (DSCEWA), the Chief Justice passed necessary orders, including the recruitment of additional court staff to alleviate the pressure on existing personnel.

“Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, along with his companion lordships, had called us for the addressal of our grievances and he heard us for nearly two hours and has passed necessary directions concerning all our demands,” the circular stated.
“Accordingly, the call stands called off. All members are requested to join/perform their duties as desired.”

Background on Harish Singh Mahar

Mahar was a resident of Faridabad and lived with his 94-year-old father. He had been serving in the Saket court for three months prior to his death. His suicide has raised concerns regarding the mental health and work pressure faced by court employees, especially those with disabilities.

The administration’s commitment to addressing the staff’s demands, including hiring additional personnel, is aimed at preventing further incidents and ensuring a safer, more manageable working environment within the court complex.

This incident has drawn attention to the growing stress and workload challenges faced by lower-level court employees and the urgent need for systemic reforms to safeguard employee welfare in India’s judicial system.