UP Civil Court Judge Dies By Suicide; Stop Stigmatising Mental Health

A civil court judge allegedly died by suicide on Saturday at her government residence in Badayun. She was a resident of Mau and had been transferred to Badaun a year ago. Justice Jyotsana Rai was found dead in the bedroom of a government residence on Saturday. 

As per reports, her colleagues started calling the 27-year-old judge when she did not turn up for work by 10 am. Since the phone calls went unanswered, the colleagues visited Jyotsana's home in Judge Colony. They found that the bedroom was locked from inside. The colleagues then informed the police. 

The police broke the door open and found the lifeless body of Jyotsana hanging by the fan in the ceiling. 

After hearing about the incident, the district judge, SSP and judicial officers reached the judge's residence. The forensic team too reached the place to collect samples. 

Senior Superintendent of Police of Budaun Alok Priyadarshi said that a suicide note and some documents were recovered from her room. Officer Priyadarshi said that this seems to be a case of mental stress. Her body has been sent for post-mortem. 

However, Jyotsana's father, Ashok Kumar Rai, has filed an FIR under Section 302 as he suspects that his daughter has been murdered. A day after Jyotsana's death, her father complained to the Kotwali police station and said that his daughter was killed first and then hanged. 

Alok Mishra Circle Officer (City) Badaun said that the police will conduct the investigation based on the evidence and the post-mortem report which is still awaited. 

Jyotsana Rai was posted as a Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Badaun in April last year. Earlier she was working as a judicial magistrate in Ayodhya.  

Cases of suicide reported recently

Recently, a 33-year-old woman jumped to death from the 16th floor of her apartment in Greater Noida. She was carrying her six-month-old daughter in her arms too who also lost her life. As per the Police, the woman was unwell and was battling with an illness. Simultaneously, she also slipped into depression. A police spokesperson told media, "The woman was living with her family in the society. Her brother informed the police that she was suffering from an illness and was in depression." 

Class 10 student Kripanshi died by suicide because her father stopped her from playing on his phone and asked her to study. Distraught by the scolding, Kripanshi locked herself in a room. The family's concern deepened when, around 8 pm, calls for dinner went unanswered. Alarmed by the silence, family members decided to investigate, ultimately breaking open the door to discover the lifeless body of Kripanshi.

Why is it important to sensitise society against mental health illness

Dear society, please be sensitive to people facing mental health issues. Sometimes people don't realise that they are suffering from an illness. Mental health illness doesn't have a face or type. It affects every person differently. So the least that we as a society can do is to be kind to everyone, not only our acquaintances. We need to listen to people who are suffering and ensure that they are not alone. Before it is too late, let's increase awareness about mental health issues.  

Views expressed are the author's own.