A bench of justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale held that Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which makes abetment to suicide punishable with up to 10 years in jail, mandates that the prosecution must establish a clear and direct link between the accused's actions and the victim's decision to take their own life. The ruling reaffirms the essential requirement of "mens rea" (intent) to incite or aid the act of suicide, without which a conviction under this provision cannot stand.
"Mere harassment, by itself, is not sufficient to find an accused guilty of abetting suicide. The prosecution must demonstrate an active or direct action by the accused that led the deceased to take their own life. The element of mens rea cannot simply be presumed or inferred; it must be evident and explicitly discernible," held the bench in a judgment on Tuesday, while acquitting a man and his family accused of abetting the suicide of his wife.
This story is from the December 12, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Mumbai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 12, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Mumbai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Why You Should Use Vitamin C Serum in Winter
Winter's cold, dry air can leave your skin dull, dehydrated and prone to issues like irritation and ageing.
CBI Adds Graft Charges in Mahadev Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a corruption and cheating case in connection with the Mahadev online betting app scandal, people familiar with developments said on Monday, roughly four months after the Chhattisgarh government asked the agency to probe the larger conspiracy and role of public servants in a case where former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was earlier named.
End of One-Size-Fits-All: Obesity Diagnosis Enters New Era Sans BMI Limits
Experts say factors such as age, comorbidities, muscle mass and gender should be considered, too, when defining obesity
China Executes 62-Year-Old Who Killed 35 in Zhuhai Car Rampage
China on Monday executed a man who killed 35 people in a car rampage in the southern city of Zhuhai in November, in the country's deadliest mass attack in years.
The bovine beliefs of a man of science
Veezhinathan Kamakoti loves cows. More so if they are indigenous breeds. He also believes that cow urine has medicinal value. As a private individual, he has every right to stick to his beliefs, which are derived from faith-based claims rather than evidence provided by modern science.
SC Grants Centre Till Mar 18 To Decide On Rajoana's Mercy Plea
The Supreme Court on Monday gave a \"last chance\" to the Centre to decide by March 18 on the long-pending mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh.
Turf questions in CCI's Meta order
CCI HAD IMPOSED A ₹213 CRORE PENALTY ON META FOR ALLEGEDLY ABUSING ITS DOMINANT POSITION
No mascara, no problem: That's 2025's hottest beauty trend
Even the best mascaras take a little effort to remove — but what if skipping them altogether became the hottest beauty trend of 2025? Enter the effortlessly chic full-face, no-mascara look.
India Set To Host 2025 Fide World Cup From Oct 31
India is all set to host possibly the most important chess tournament of the year, the Fide World Cup.
We have no time to stand and stare
THIS IS KNOWN AS LEISURE GUILT. A FEELING OF NEGATIVITY WHEN SPENDING TIME ON LEISURE, INSTEAD OF BEING PRODUCTIVE
