Attempt to Suicide removed from List of Crimes

The Central Government has removed ‘Attempt to Suicide’ or Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The decriminalisation process will be completed soon. 18 states and 4 Union Territories have backed the government move, prompting the Centre to take the decision.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said that the Law Commission of India, had recommended that Sec 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of IPC needs to be effaced from the statute book.

The controversial Section 309 was debated on many occasions, as experts questioned its validity. When a person commits suicide, it is not considered as a crime after his death. But, if he survives, then he becomes punishable under law, which is just like adding insult to injury.

Under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), attempting to commit suicide is punishable with a jail term of up to one year and a fine.