Section 306 IPC: Abetment of suicide —
If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Punishment-Imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable-Non-bailable-Triable by Court of Session-Non-compoundable.
Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with the offence of “abetment of suicide”. This section makes it a criminal offence to abet, or assist in any manner, the commission of suicide by another person.
The section reads as follows: “If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
The offence under Section 306 is a non-bailable and cognizable offence, which means that the police can arrest the accused without a warrant.
It is important to note that for the offence under Section 306 to be established, it must be proven that the accused abetted the suicide of the victim. Abetment can be in the form of instigation, conspiracy, or intentionally aiding the victim to commit suicide. Mere knowledge of the victim’s suicidal tendencies or depression is not sufficient to establish the offence under this section.
In addition to Section 306, other related sections of the IPC, such as Section 107 (abetment) and Section 309 (attempt to commit suicide), may also be invoked in cases where a person attempts to take their own life or is instigated to do so.
In conclusion, Section 306 of the IPC is an important provision that aims to prevent the abetment of suicide by imposing severe punishment on those who aid or instigate others to commit suicide. It serves as a deterrent against acts of instigation or conspiracy that may lead to loss of life. Anyone found guilty of this offence can face severe consequences, including imprisonment and fines.
