Chennai, 13 August (H.S.): A shocking incident unfolded at the Madras High Court premises on Tuesday evening when a 15-year-old girl attempted to take her own life by jumping from the first floor of the court building. The girl, who had appeared for a habeas corpus hearing related to a child custody case, survived the attempt but sustained serious injuries.
The court staff quickly responded to the situation, rescuing the girl and rushing her to a nearby hospital in an ambulance. The incident has sent shockwaves through the judicial community and raised concerns about the mental health and well-being of minors involved in court cases.
The girl's parents are divorced, and her father had filed a habeas corpus petition in the Madras High Court, requesting that she be handed over to him. The mother had remarried, which led to the court's decision to place the girl in a care home. This decision reportedly distressed the girl, leading her to attempt suicide.
The incident highlights the complexities and emotional turmoil often involved in child custody cases. It also underscores the need for sensitive handling of such cases, taking into account the emotional and psychological well-being of the children involved ¹.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Tamil Nadu Police have inspected the incident site. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attempt, with a focus on understanding the factors that led to this desperate measure.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary