A pall of grief has fallen over Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh after the death of a primary school headmaster and Booth Level Officer, Sarvesh Singh, who allegedly died by suicide on Sunday. Singh, aged 42, was found hanging inside his residence in the Baheri area while he was engaged in work for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The incident has sparked widespread concern about the overwhelming pressure faced by government employees involved in election related responsibilities, especially at the grassroots level.
Shortly after Singh’s death, a two minute forty second video he recorded privately began circulating on social media platforms. In the clip, the headmaster breaks down repeatedly, struggling to speak as he apologises to his family and admits he felt unable to perform his official duties adequately.
“Mummy, please take care of my children. I have four young girls. Please forgive me,” Singh says through tears. He insists that no individual should be blamed for his death, adding, “No one is at fault. Do not say anything to my family. I was not able to understand this work properly.”
He also expresses remorse to his wife, Babli, who later confirmed that neither she nor other family members knew about the video until they checked his phone after his death.
Speaking to The Indian Express over the phone, Singh’s wife alleged that the workload and pressure associated with the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls had taken a heavy toll on her husband. “This video shows how much stress he was under. He never let anyone handle his phone because all his official assignments were managed through it,” she said.
She added that the administration had offered her a Class IV job as part of immediate relief measures, but she declined. “I am well educated. I have a postgraduate degree and a B.Ed. My husband was a headmaster. Why should I be given a Class IV post” she asked.
The family has not yet filed a formal complaint with the police, saying they are still trying to process the tragedy
Police officials said they recovered a note believed to be written by Singh in which he admitted that his mental health had deteriorated due to his inability to meet SIR related targets on time. The note also mentioned that two of his four daughters were unwell, which further contributed to his emotional stress. According to the police, he did not blame anyone for the situation.
One officer said, “He felt very troubled. He wrote that he did not receive proper guidance for the work. His daughters health issues added to his anxiety.”
Singh, who hailed from Moradabad, joined government service in 2010. He was posted in Rampur for several years before being transferred back to Moradabad about eight years ago. He lived with his wife Babli, his four daughters aged between one and a half years and eleven years, and his elderly mother, 65 year old Somwati Devi. His father had passed away several years ago, and his younger brother Pramod Kumar works in a private firm in Uttarakhand.
Family members described him as hardworking, quiet, and deeply committed to his school duties. “Everyone who has come to see us says they will support Sarvesh’s family and especially his daughters. But so far, nothing concrete has been done,” Pramod said.
His mother, Somwati, said the demands of the election assignment had taken a heavy toll on her son. “This election work has taken my child’s life. Whatever has happened, we will still try to rebuild our lives,” she said softly.
Additional Superintendent of Police Kunwar Akash Singh confirmed that the viral video had come to the department’s attention. “We will conduct an inquiry into all aspects of the case,” he said.
Moradabad District Magistrate Anuj Singh released a video statement saying that the headmaster had been performing his responsibilities effectively and had already completed digitisation of nearly 67 percent of the required SIR forms. He was close to finishing the remaining work, the District Magistrate added.
The incident has renewed questions about the mental health pressures faced by teachers, clerks, and Booth Level Officers tasked with verification and updating of electoral records under tight timelines.
Government school teachers in many states have long complained about being overburdened with non academic duties, including election work, census enumeration, and survey assignments. Singh’s death is now likely to intensify calls for better support systems, mental health resources, and clearer administrative guidance for workers handling time bound electoral tasks.
As the inquiry begins and his family mourns an irreplaceable loss, Singh’s final words have triggered nationwide introspection on the human cost of bureaucratic pressure and the urgency of reforms in managing frontline election staff.
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