Govt plans to decriminalise attempt to commit suicide

The Home Ministry is in the process of effacing Section 309 of IPC, under which anyone attempting to commit suicide is punishable with a jail term of upto one year and fine, and discussions in this effect are on.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha that the Law Commission of India in its 210 report on "Humanization and Decriminalisation of Attempt to Suicide" has recommended that Section 309 of IPC needs to be effaced from the statute book.

The Home Ministry is 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, Rijiju told the House in a written reply.

The Law Commission in its recommendation said Section 309 needs to be effaced from the statute book because the provision is inhuman, irrespective of whether it is constitutional or unconstitutional.
The repeal of the anachronistic law contained in section 309 of the Indian Penal Code would save many lives and relieve the distressed of his suffering, it said.