In a recent decision made by the government of India, section 309 has been omitted from the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to the decision, “attempt to suicide” is no more a crime under the legal system of our India. This decision received mixed responses from all over the nation, when I read about it a few days back, only one thought struck me. I was very sure now about the fact that in the coming years there would be a steep increase in the number of successful suicide attempts made by newly wedded brides across the nation.
In its 210th annual report, the law commission of Indian recommended the decriminalisation of “attempt to suicide. Based upon the response the commission received on its recommendation, the decision was made of deleting section 309 from the IPC. But I guess the law commission missed out on the report which showed that over 1, 30,000 people in India in the year 2013 died after their attempt to suicide became successful. The reports show terrifying numbers of suicide cases in the states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
While some people think on the lines that people with suicidal tendencies should be consulting doctors and psychologists rather than get involved in fighting a legal battle. Our nation is quickly climbing up the ladder of reporting increasing number of suicide cases annually. According to a report suicides have been ranked as the second highest cause of death. My concern here is not about the people who wish to end up their life wilfully. But I am concerned about the cold blooded murders that will be now conveniently given the name of ‘suicide’.
In a recent decision made by the government of India, section 309 has been omitted from the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to the decision, “attempt to suicide” is no more a crime under the legal system of our India. This decision received mixed responses from all over the nation, when I read about it a few days back, only one thought struck me. I was very sure now about the fact that in the coming years there would be a steep increase in the number of successful suicide attempts made by newly wedded brides across the nation.
In its 210th annual report, the law commission of Indian recommended the decriminalisation of “attempt to suicide. Based upon the response the commission received on its recommendation, the decision was made of deleting section 309 from the IPC. But I guess the law commission missed out on the report which showed that over 1, 30,000 people in India in the year 2013 died after their attempt to suicide became successful. The reports show terrifying numbers of suicide cases in the states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
While some people think on the lines that people with suicidal tendencies should be consulting doctors and psychologists rather than get involved in fighting a legal battle. Our nation is quickly climbing up the ladder of reporting increasing number of suicide cases annually. According to a report suicides have been ranked as the second highest cause of death. My concern here is not about the people who wish to end up their life wilfully. But I am concerned about the cold blooded murders that will be now conveniently given the name of ‘suicide’.
I firmly believe in ‘personal choice’ of every individual but when I think of the innocent lives that would be taken away in the name of ‘suicide’ shudders definitely run down my spine. Our judiciary system due to many reasons takes years to pass a judgement o deliver justice to the victims or their families. While the judiciary system can also take a sigh of relief as there will be little lesser load, but I fear the way this new omission and decriminalisation shall be misused by the criminal minds of our nation.
In India every year we hear about dowry deaths, honour killings, and cold blooded murders of kith and kin. Isn’t this decriminalisation of section 309 of IPC lead act as an encouragement for many? In a country where investigation files, post mortem reports and legal procedures are easily manipulated by power and money, is this decision not going to have its implications? Are not those greedy in-laws and families living in the balloon of fake honour would find it easier to take away the lives of those innocent girls? Isn’t the noose going to get tightened around the neck of those women who used to be abandoned by their husbands and in-laws just because they were unable to give them a male-child?
While reading a newspaper clipping I came across an article where the writer had said that suicide and euthanasia are completely a matter of personal choice. The writer further said that as long as it (suicide/euthanasia) was not coerced, the society or the judiciary system should not have any problem with it. Well I would just want to raise just one question – “Who is going to decide whether the suicide has been coerced or not?” Let’s take an example, suppose a newly wedded bride is not being hit or tortured but everyday she is going through some or the other kind of mental trauma. One day she tries to end her life and succeeds. Now let me ask all my readers one question, isn’t this suicide a coerced one? Wasn’t this a cold blooded murder?
Apart from all the above stated facts, figures and opinions, our nation’s machinery today thrives on corruption. In such a scenario will deleting section 309 from the Indian Penal Code act as an encouragement or a tool for exercising personal choice is the only question I wish to ask my readers.
Our judiciary system due to many reasons takes years to pass a judgement o deliver justice to the victims or their families. While the judiciary system can also take a sigh of relief as there will be little lesser load, but I fear the way this new omission and decriminalisation shall be misused by the criminal minds of our nation.
In India every year we hear about dowry deaths, honour killings, and cold blooded murders of kith and kin. Isn’t this decriminalisation of section 309 of IPC lead act as an encouragement for many? In a country where investigation files, post mortem reports and legal procedures are easily manipulated by power and money, is this decision not going to have its implications? Are not those greedy in-laws and families living in the balloon of fake honour would find it easier to take away the lives of those innocent girls? Isn’t the noose going to get tightened around the neck of those women who used to be abandoned by their husbands and in-laws just because they were unable to give them a male-child?
While reading a newspaper clipping I came across an article where the writer had said that suicide and euthanasia are completely a matter of personal choice. The writer further said that as long as it (suicide/euthanasia) was not coerced, the society or the judiciary system should not have any problem with it. Well I would just want to raise just one question – “Who is going to decide whether the suicide has been coerced or not?” Let’s take an example, suppose a newly wedded bride is not being hit or tortured but everyday she is going through some or the other kind of mental trauma. One day she tries to end her life and succeeds. Now let me ask all my readers one question, isn’t this suicide a coerced one? Wasn’t this a cold blooded murder?
Apart from all the above stated facts, figures and opinions, our nation’s machinery today thrives on corruption. In such a scenario will deleting section 309 from the Indian Penal Code act as an encouragement or a tool for exercising personal choice is the only question I wish to ask my readers.
