Karnataka High Court asks security, police organisations to review mental health policies for armed personnel

Bengaluru The High Court of Karnataka has advised the security and police organisations to prioritise the mental health and well-being of personnel entrusted with firearms while asking the authorities to examine existing policies and take appropriate steps to strengthen the mental health and welfare measures for their personnel. Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order while quashing the criminal proceedings against a 37-year-old CISF Sub-Inspector for attempting to kill herself in 2022 by using her service pistol while on duty in Mangaluru.

She had attempted to end her life following years of severe mental distress over her inability to conceive a child due to a blocked fallopian tube. Allowing her petition, the court set aside the lower court’s order and discharged her from the offence under Section 309 of the IPC (attempt to commit suicide).

The court ruled that Section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, creates a mandatory presumption of severe stress, placing the burden on the prosecution to prove otherwise.