HC hears greivances of woman seeking permission for suicide

Mumbai, Jan 16 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today heard the matter of a woman from Thane, who had written a letter to the Chief Justice seeking permission to commit suicide along with her family, alleging that the police were harassing them by registering false cases.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the letter, a Division Bench, comprising Justice Ranjana Desai and Anoop Mohta, directed Advocate Chaitanya Pendse to file an affidavit submitting details of all the cases filed against Kanchan Devi Kothari's family.

The court has also directed additional public prosecutor Aruna Pai to file a reply to the affidavit and adjourned the hearing to February 13.

Advocate Pendse told the court that the petitioner's husband and son were accused of robbery, assaulting a police official and even assaulting a neighbouring shopkeeper. While there were seven cases against her son, Jitendra Kothari, he was acquitted in all and none were pending, Mr Pendse added.

He also contended that the petitioner had filed a complaint of fraud in July last year against India Services Pvt Ltd where her son worked but no action was taken.

However, Advocate Aruna Pai opposed the submissions stating that there were in all 16 cases against the duo and the son was acquitted in four, convicted in one and the remaining cases were pending.

According to the Wagle Estate Police Station, where various complaints were filed, the family had a jewellery shop and they mainly dealt with stolen items.

She also told the court that the petitioner's son-in-law was an absconder under a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case and Kanchan Devi was applying legal tactics to secure her family from any police investigation through such litigation before the court.

Pai informed the court that the family had sent a similar application for 'mercy death' to the Lok Ayukta in 2003. No orders were passed following police submitted relevant documents before the forum.

The court further observed that while there were so many cases by and against the petitioner's family, they were represented by lawyers all along. Then why have they written such a letter, asked the Judges.

Justice Desai said ''We don't really understand the reason for the petitioner's prayer but we will examine the case.'' UNI