The Madras High Court witnessed tense moments on Tuesday when a 15-year-old girl jumped from the first floor of the court premises shortly after a custody-related hearing. She sustained injuries and was rushed in the High Court ambulance to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGH) for treatment.
The girl, whose parents are divorced, had been brought from the Andaman Islands by Neelankarai police in Chennai after a habeas corpus petition was filed by her biological father. She was first produced before a Division Bench of Justices M.S. Ramesh and V. Lakshminarayanan on August 8, 2025.
When the case came up again on Tuesday, the girl expressed her wish to live with her mother in the Andamans. However, after reviewing a confidential mediation centre report, the judges concluded that it would not be safe or conducive for her to return there.
The Bench directed police to place her in the Government Children's Home for Girls at Kellys, Chennai, and then take her to the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, for psychiatric evaluation. The court ordered that the report be submitted in a sealed cover by August 26, 2025.
"It appears to be an accident during an attempt to escape from the police, not a suicide attempt, although only a proper inquiry will confirm the reason," said a lawyer present at the scene.
Police said that as she was being escorted through the corridors, the girl tried to flee, holding on to serial lights set up for Independence Day celebrations, but lost balance and fell. Her condition is reported to be stable.
The case has been adjourned to August 28, 2025, and further inquiry into the incident is underway.
Attention: Suicide is never a solution to any problem. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please seek help from qualified professionals. The 'Disha' Helpline offers free counselling and support services.
- Call the toll-free number 1056 or 0471-2552056.