Empathetic Public Service: A Key to Preventing Desperation

The Kerala High Court highlights the importance of empathy and communication in public services, noting that a lack of both can lead citizens to feel harassed and helpless. This observation arises amid a case where a man allegedly committed suicide due to delays in his provident fund release.

Kerala High Court emphasized the crucial role of empathy and effective communication in public services on Friday. Justice Devan Ramachandran stated that many people approaching public services often feel harassed because of indifference and poor communication from officials, leading to feelings of violated dignity and desperation.

The court's comments came during a hearing for a plea alleging that a man committed suicide after not receiving his provident funds on time. The Employment Provident Fund Organisation refuted the claim, suggesting the incident resulted from the victim's misunderstanding of the process.

While the court did not confirm the allegations, it stressed that this serves as an 'eye-opener' for all public officers to enhance their engagement with citizens. The court also requested a status update on the police investigation into the man's death, taking steps to involve higher authorities for comprehensive review.

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