Did you know that attempt to commit suicide is punishable in India at present? It is… under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. But now the Law Commission has proposed to delete the section thereby decriminalizing the act of suicide attempt.

The Law Commission had recommended this reform way back in 1971 and had also got government’s nod. But somehow the move fell through in 1972. The Section 309 was challenged in the Supreme Court in many cases as well. In 1994, SC had in one case termed the section as unconstitutional; but then later a five-judge bench set-aside the decision upholding the constitutional validity of the provision.

Justice Lakshmanan, Chairman of the Law Commission along with other members observed that there is no gain to punish a person, who under extreme duress attempts to end his life, albeit unsuccessfully.