By Tara Hebbar
Across the world, several countries consider suicide a crime including India by section 309 which criminilizes the act. India shares a unique defination of abetting the suicide. Abetting means to assist. In most countries aiding and abetting the act of suicide means the act of directly assiting the “act”. Helping set it up, handing them the gun etc. However, in countries like India, by section 306 which states that “driving” the victim to suicide is aiding them.This can include several external reasons, that indirectly “might” have caused them pain.
According to me, this isn’t a fair system whatsoever due to the fact that logically, it can do more harm than good. It can cause everyone to be more apprehensive in anticipation of their clients, family members, lovers causing their own death. For example could be the fact that if a person is knee deep in debt and is unable to pay it back, handle the mental pulls that come with it, and ends their life, the finger is pointed at the bank or money lender. This can lead to a plethora of instances that harm more than just 1 party or entity that is involved. This can lead to the destruction of lives, of not only the dead but the ones who are living.
This also can make for some very vengeful and elaborate revenge plans. Though it might not be the direct “drive”, a person who commits suicide can misuse this act in their favour as to get even with thoes who haven’tdone them good. Though in some cases this might be well deserved, it still isn’t justice to get penalized for an act that you have no relation to.
This can additionally carry a heavy emotional weightage for the accused, if they haven’t done what they’ve been accused off. Especially if the death was one of their loved ones. Imagine the feeling of guilt that might be felt by someone if they were accused of being the reason for the death of someone to whom they mean no harm. For these reasons this system is not serving justice, when imposed, like the intention.
Lastly, as we see India viewing many of these cases, such as Arnab Goswami, the imposition of this law, can stump the exercising of other rights that a citizen holds. In Arnab Goswamis case, he was taken to court due to the fact that a person to whom he owed money committed suicide. A crime that you haven’t committed, can be held against you. It needs to be viewed from not only the side of the “victim” but additionally that of the “accused.” This can have a lot of psychological, mental and law issues, and it needs to be specially understood that in many of these cases, the accused has no relation to the death of the victim.”
We as a nation need to realise that we cannot always point a finger at something or somebody. We need to accept ideas such a suicide, and accept that though it shouldn’t be happening, it does. It is harsh but it is reality, destroying other lives cannot bring back one, how much ever we may want it. Although it is also justice that if a person is harmed and therefore feels the need to commit suicide, more likely than not, people are falsely accused of abetting suicide. When we accuse someone of allegedly abetting a crime, are we betting on our justice system?