The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Supreme Court, in a significant judgment, has acquitted an individual previously convicted for abetment to suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), underscoring the necessity for concrete evidence of instigation or a direct act leading to the act of suicide. Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Ujjal Bhuyan, in their deliberation, highlighted that for a conviction under this section, the prosecution must unequivocally demonstrate that the accused’s actions or inactions created a circumstance where the deceased felt no alternative but to end their life.
The case in question revolved around allegations against the appellant/accused of harassing and threatening a woman, leading to her suicide after consuming poison. The prosecution’s argument that the accused’s conduct instigated the woman to take such a drastic step was critically examined by the Supreme Court.
In their judgment, the justices stressed the importance of distinguishing between actions taken in a fit of anger or emotional outburst and those that constitute genuine instigation or encouragement to commit suicide. They pointed out that without a “clear mens rea” or a direct act by the accused intending to lead the deceased to suicide, a conviction under Section 306 cannot be upheld.
The Supreme Court meticulously reviewed the evidence presented, concluding that the accusations against the appellant did not fulfill the stringent criteria required for establishing abetment to suicide. The court noted that mere allegations of harassment, without any direct action leading the victim to suicide proximately, are insufficient for a conviction.
Referencing prior judgments, the court elucidated that in cases of alleged abetment of suicide, it’s imperative to prove incitement to the act of suicide through direct or indirect actions. The court cautioned against convicting individuals based on the hypersensitivity of the deceased to ordinary petulance or discord common in societal interactions, which may not lead a similarly situated individual to consider suicide.
The Supreme Court’s decision to acquit the appellant underscores the complex nature of human emotions and the myriad reasons that might drive an individual to attempt suicide. It reaffirms the legal principle that for a charge of abetment to suicide to stand, there must be unequivocal evidence of the accused’s intention and action to induce the deceased towards committing the act.
This judgment serves as a crucial reminder of the judiciary’s responsibility in scrutinizing the evidence and circumstances surrounding cases of suicide with utmost care, ensuring that the charges of abetment are substantiated by solid evidence and not merely conjectural or circumstantial allegations.