SC OK’s employer’s trial over suicide

“A plain and simple reading of this suicide note makes it crystal clear that the appellant had not just humiliated and insulted the deceased on one occasion. In fact,it is evident that the appellant (employer) perpetually humiliated,exploited and de-moralised the deceased,which hurt his self-respect tremendously,” the bench said.

“It is not a case of a driver or a man having an illicit relationship with a married woman,knowing that she also had another paramour.

“The deceased in the instant case was a qualified graduate engineer and still suffered persistent harassment and humiliation and additionally,also,had to endure continuous illegal demands made by the appellant,upon non-fulfilment of which,he would be mercilessly harassed by the appellant for a prolonged period of time,” the bench said.

In this case,employer Praveen Pradhan allegedly used to torture his employee Anurag Singh by forcing him to work continuously for 16-17 hours at a stretch in the factory.

Pradhan also used to tease Anurag saying had there been some other person in his place,he would have certainly committed suicide. Allegedly facing such humiliation repeatedly,Anurag had committed suicide.