Atul Subhash suicide case: SC grants custody of Bengaluru techie’s son to estranged wife
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the custody of the minor son of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide, will remain with his estranged wife Nikita Singhania, who is facing charges of abetting his suicide along with her family members.
The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and S.C. Sharma, who denied the plea of Subhash’s mother, Anju Devi, to take custody of the child, Indian Express reported. The decision came after the bench spoke with the four-year-old boy via a video link.
The court had previously stated that Anju Devi was "virtually a stranger to the child," implying she lacked the necessary familiarity with her grandchild to assume guardianship.
Anju Devi requested the court to grant her custody of her grandson, emphasising that young children should not be sent to a boarding school. She also referenced allegations suggesting that Singhania may have been involved in Subhash’s death. However, the court noted that Singhania has not been proven guilty and cautioned against drawing conclusions based solely on media reports, IE mentioned.
During the hearing, the bench requested affidavits from the Haryana government and Singhania about the child’s condition, the report added.
Atul Subhash was found dead at his Bengaluru residence on December 9, 2024. The 36-year-old left behind a 24-page suicide note and a 90-minute video detailing alleged extortion and harassment by his spouse and her family, as well as corruption within the judicial system.
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Revenue Department orders immediate return of Village Administrative Officers to original posts
Bengaluru: The Revenue Department has directed the immediate release of Village Administrative Officers (VAOs) currently assigned to duties in the offices of Deputy Commissioners, District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates, and Tahsildars, instructing them to return to their original posts.
Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria issued a circular on Tuesday emphasizing that despite repeated instructions, several VAOs continue to be engaged in duties outside their designated roles. The government has taken note of this and has now mandated their immediate reassignment to their original positions.
The directive comes in the wake of increasing workload and staff shortages in the Revenue Department, particularly as the government is implementing various citizen-centric projects aimed at streamlining and digitizing administrative processes. Kataria stressed that VAOs play a crucial role in these initiatives, and their absence from their original posts has led to added pressure on existing staff.
The circular warns that failure to comply with the order will invite disciplinary action. Officials have been instructed to ensure that all VAOs currently on special assignments are relieved immediately and resume their original responsibilities.
