HC quashes summons against ex-director of DU in suicide case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has quashed the trial court’s order summoning the former principal of BR Ambedkar College and a senior assistant in a 2013 suicide case. Judge Amit Sharma stated that while decisions made by those in positions of authority can be harsh and impact employees, they cannot be held liable for abetment of suicide without evidence of criminal intent.

The court emphasized that each case must be assessed individually, and in this case there was no evidence of contact between petitioners and the deceased after her termination in 2012 and before her suicide attempt in 2013.

Moreover, previous investigations by multiple legal authorities had exonerated the petitioners. The woman had cited intimidation and an unfair termination as reasons for her self-immolation, blaming several authorities in a suicide note. The Supreme Court, however, noted that there was no direct direct action of the petitioners related to the suicide.