Attempt to suicide decriminalised: Modi govt scraps Section 309 of IPC

In a major decision taken on Wednesday, the government of India has decided to do away with the law that criminalised attempts to suicide. According to CNN-IBN, 18 states and four Union Territories have backed the government’s decision. Now, if a person attempts to commit suicide and survives, he won’t be treated as a criminal. [caption id=“attachment_1843279” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The Ministry of Home Affair said, “We have decided to delete Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code.” The Economic Times reports: “However, states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi did advise due caution before scrapping of the provision. Bihar government told the Home Ministry that the section should not be omitted as there are suicide bombers who fail in their attempt to blow themselves up and other terrorists who consume cyanide pills with the intention to wipe out evidence.” Prior to this, a person charged with Section 309 of the IPC faced up to one year in prison and a fine. Earlier, in August 2014, the government had said that it would decriminalise suicide. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had said in the Lok Sabha that the Law Commission of India in its 210 report on “Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide” had recommended that Section 309 of IPC needed to be effaced from the statute book. In a written reply to the House, Kiren Rijiju had said that the Home Ministry was in the process of effacing Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code as recommended by the Law Commission along with amendment of certain other sections of the CrPC and IPC in consultation with all stake holders. With PTI inputs