State is not responsible for a person’s suicide due to hike of fees charged by private schools

The Madras High Court while dismissing the writ petition of a widow seeking compensation from the State Government held that State is not responsible for a persons’ suicide due to hike of fees charged by private schools. In the present case, the deceased had killed one of his children before committing suicide due to exorbitant fees charged by the private schools. The petitioner had sought relief for securing free education for the remaining and surviving child and also compensation for the double tragedy. The Court held that the deceased could have taken assistance from the Welfare Officer and philanthropic organizations where they would bear the expenditure for better education instead of taking violent measures. The Court also held that the State Government, as a measure of welfare of the Society at large, has been running and maintaining several institutions for promoting the cause of education like a government-run educational institutions or philanthropic organizations for financial support. The Court, hence, held that the claim of the petitioner for payment of compensation against the State Government is an extravagant one as the State is nowhere responsible for the violent action unleashed by the husband of the petitioner. [Easwari v. Principal Secretary, Department of School Education, 2016 SCC OnLine Mad 6299 decided on 8th June, 2016]