Courtroom proceedings took a disturbing turn at Karkardooma when a court stenographer threatened suicide, stalling the judgment in a road accident case.
Legal Desk, New Delhi, 10-May: In an unusual and disturbing turn of events, a Delhi court had to postpone its verdict in a road accident case. This happened after the courtroom stenographer allegedly left mid-hearing, threatening to die by suicide.
The case, titled State vs. Sukhdev @ Sukha, was being heard by Judicial Magistrate Neha Garg at Karkardooma Court on April 29. The official order noted that the court could not proceed with the judgment due to this unexpected disruption.
"Judgment could not be dictated as the regular stenographer of the court has left the court after threatening the court that he will commit suicide. Accordingly, relist for pronouncement of judgment," Magistrate Garg recorded.
Case Rescheduled, Concerns Mount
Following the incident, the case has been rescheduled. However, the current condition of the stenographer and further developments remain unclear.
Mental health emergencies in courtrooms are extremely rare. While delays due to administrative or legal reasons are common, this situation has deeply alarmed the legal community.
Legal experts are now calling for an urgent review of the mental wellness framework within India’s judicial system. They emphasize the need to support not just judges and lawyers, but also clerical and non-judicial staff.
Systemic Pressures and Mental Health in Judiciary
This incident also brings to light the immense pressure faced by clerical court staff. They often work long hours, handle sensitive cases, and juggle mounting workloads. Despite their crucial role in courtroom functioning, mental health resources for them remain limited.
According to experts, addressing these gaps is essential to ensuring a healthy and functioning legal system. Without proper support systems, such crises could become more frequent.
The Delhi judiciary has yet to issue an official statement. The verdict in the case is expected to be announced in the coming days, barring any further disruptions.
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