On Friday, 9 January 2026, Harish Singh Mahar, a 44 year old clerk at the Saket District Court in South Delhi, reportedly ended his life by jumping from the court building.
Mahar, who served as an Ahlmad (record-keeper), left a heartbreaking suicide note detailing how his 60 per cent physical disability made the high-pressure clerical duties “very tough” to manage.
The note revealed his struggles with chronic insomnia and overthinking, exacerbated by a rigid system that denied him access to pension or savings if he opted for early retirement.
Police have taken custody of the body, and the incident has ignited widespread debate over mental health and inclusive workplace policies in India’s judicial administration.
Work Pressure?
In the judicial hierarchy, an Ahlmad is responsible for the meticulous management of court records, case files, and legal documents. At the Saket Court, Harish Singh Mahar was allegedly tasked with handling the Digital Traffic Court’s heavy record load.
This role requires constant physical movement, long hours of filing, and high accountability, which Mahar found increasingly difficult to navigate due to his 60 per cent handicap. His transition to this specific charge acted as a catalyst for his mental decline.
The administrative nature of the work, often overlooked in the broader legal discourse, forms the back office of justice, yet those running it frequently face extreme burnout without adequate support.
Desperate Choice
Mahar’s alleged suicide note sheds light on a systemic flaw regarding employee welfare and exit options. He mentioned that he had contemplated early retirement to escape the mounting stress but felt trapped because he would not be eligible for his pension or life savings until the age of 60.
This financial bottleneck reportedly left him with no perceived alternative, as he feared for his family’s future while being unable to sustain his current pace.
The note revealed that he suffered from severe sleep deprivation for 45 days, highlighting a devastating lack of internal mechanisms within the Delhi court system to identify and assist employees in such deep distress.
Heartbreaking Final Words
“I did not share my thoughts with anyone. I believed that I would overcome them, but I failed,” Mahar wrote, indicating the stigma and isolation often felt by male employees in high-pressure roles.
He clarified that the decision was his own and that no specific individual should be blamed, yet the underlying blame lies with an inflexible work culture. DCP (South) Ankit Sharma confirmed that the investigation is ongoing to check for any secondary factors.
Meanwhile, court staff and advocacy groups for the specially abled have called for an immediate audit of workload distribution, demanding that physical and mental health vulnerabilities be factored into administrative assignments.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that no job should ever cost a human life. The tragic death of Harish Singh Mahar is a stark indictment of a work culture that values administrative efficiency over human dignity.
For a person with a 60 per cent disability, the “toughness” of a job is not just a mental hurdle but a daily physical battle that requires institutional empathy and reasonable accommodation.
We must dismantle the silence surrounding mental health in professional spaces and reform pension policies that trap vulnerable employees in toxic or overwhelming environments. Our hearts go out to his family.
Please Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with distressing thoughts or emotional crisis, support is available. India’s National Suicide Prevention Helpline (1800-121-3667) offers confidential, 24/7 assistance.
Organisations like AASRA (+91-22-27546669) and Sneha Suicide Prevention Helpline (+91-44-24640050) also provide free, non-judgmental listening and support. Reaching out to a trusted friend, family member or mental health professional can make a critical difference in difficult moments.
