“Have Been Treated Like Utter Garbage… Feel Like An Unwanted Insect”: UP Civil Judge Seek CJI Permission To End Life
In an open letter written to Chief Justice of India (CJI), a Civil Judge from Banda district requested permission to end her life. Reports suggests the name of the Civil Judge is Arpita Sahu and the letter details the alleged physical and mental torture Ms Sahu endured during her posting in Uttar Pradesh“s Barabanki.
“This letter has no purpose other than to tell my story and a prayer that my elder most guardian (CJI) permits me to end my life,” her letter starts with this statement.
Then, she goes on to tell her story in which she accuses several people of harassment including it allegedly happened by the hands of a “one particular District Judge and his associates”. She writes that she was told to meet the particular District Judge at night.
“I joined the Judicial Service with much enthusiasm and the belief that I would dispense Justice to the common folk. What did I know that I”ll be soon rendered a beggar for Justice on every door that I go. In the short time of my service I have had the rare Honour of being abused on Dias in open court. I have been sexually harassed to the very limit. I have been treated like utter garbage. I feel like an unwanted insect. And I hoped to provide justice to others,” she writes.
Then she tells all the working women in India to “Learn to live with sexual harassment. It”s a truth of our lives. The POSH ACT is a big wholesome lie told to us. No one listens, no one bothers. If u complaint, you will be tortured. Be submissive. And when I mean no one listens, that includes the Supreme Court”.
In a serious accusation against the justice system in the country, she claims that the courts will give a complainant “eight seconds of hearing, an insult and a threat to impose costs”.
“You will be pushed to commit suicide. And if you are lucky (unlike me) your first attempt at suicide will be successful,” she adds.
She claims that she had complained to the Chief Justice of Allahabad and the Administrative Judge (High Court Judge) in 2022 and no action has been taken till date about the alleged sexual harassment case involving the District Judge.
According to Ms Sahu, it took six months and several emails to start an enquiry after she complained to the to the Internal Complaints Committee of the Allahabad High Court in July 2023, and called the enquiry “a Farce and a Sham”. “The witnesses in the enquiry are immediate Subordinates of the District Judge. How the Committee expects the Witnesses to depose against their Boss is beyond my understanding”.
“I did not expect that my complaints and statement be taken as the Cardinal truth. All I wished for was a Fair Enquiry,” she added.
“What Justice will I give to others when I am myself hopeless? I have no will to live anymore. I have been rendered to a walking corpse in the last year and a half. There is no purpose in carrying this soulless and lifeless body around anymore. There is no purpose left in my life,” she ends the letter.
A woman civil judge posted in UP has written a letter to CJI requesting permission to end her life.
An excerpt in her letter read:
“In the short time of my service I have had the rare Honour of being abused (the dreaded hindi mother curse word) on Dias in open court. I have…
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) December 14, 2023
(This news story may contain content to suicide and suicidal behaviour. Such topics can be sensitive and may trigger emotional responses. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviours, we urge you to seek help immediately. Contact your local mental health crisis hotline, a mental health professional, or a trusted person in your life.
You may call 14416 or 1-8008914416 Tele MANAS service, a comprehensive mental health care service by Government of India.)
