Should Suicide be a Crime?

June 13, 2012

The reality of suicide is far different from the fantasy. Most suicidal thinkers romanticize their death by suicide, failing to realise that any suicide gesture or attempt can result in permanent brain, kidney, and liver damages, loss of limbs, blindness, or even death. – Susan Rose Blauner in How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying To Kill Me.

Two highly played up local reports in Mumbai media in April provoke this article on an otherwise topic of abiding interest - but swept under the carpet. One headline screamed: Sex-change case deferred, man threatens suicide. In a letter to the court (Bombay High Court), 21-year-old Bhidan Baruah has said that that if his case isn’t heard immediately, the judges will be responsible for his death. “I am requesting the court to pass an order against my family or grant me an order for authorised suicide”. Bhidan, who likes to call himself Swati, has alleged that his parents had prevented him to the sex reassignment surgery which was scheduled to be performed on April 17. He claimed his parents threatened the doctors who have now refused to perform the operation unless the High Court gives a go ahead. Incidentally, the court has objected to the blackmail implied in the suicide threat. (The High Court has since granted the permission for the operation; but the poor chap has exhausted his funds, earmarked for the operation, fighting the court case and extended stay in Mumbai).

The second case is banner-headlined: Jilted lover jumps off flyover, lands on a car. Failed suicide attempt: Indore resident sustains minor injuries, was remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody. The usual story follows. A dozen more such stories of successful and failed suicides plaster the local news pages of city media. But, now the all-important question about considering suicide attempts as crime has assumed centre-stage again.

Commenting on the subject, Pratibha Masand of Times News Network wrote in The Times of India (TOI) (3-5-12): Even as Ghanshyam Nagar has been remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody for attempting suicide, mental health professionals said society needs to be “a little more compassionate” towards those disturbed enough to seek an end to their lives. Their arrest after a failed suicide attempt will not deter them or others from taking such an extreme step, city psychiatrists told TOI on May 2. Moreover, instead of ensuring that the individual does not repeat the drastic attempt, the arrest may just strengthen his or her resolve to not fail the next time.
 
What the victim needs is counselling, said doctors. Dr Bharat Shah, who consults at Lilavati Hospital, said that such individuals should be treated like patients and not criminals. “Attempted suicide should be treated as a medical condition. One has to always keep in mind how depressed a person must have been to take such a big step. Even if the person is in custody, he should be provided with counselling,” he said.
 
Dr Sanjay Kumawat, of the Bombay Psychiatrists’ Society, added that a person who has failed a suicide attempt must be taken to a hospital not to just diagnose and treat physical injuries, but also mental health. This should be made mandatory. “The police have their own way of handling things, which may further traumatize patients. A mental health professional, on the other hand, understands that each case is different, and needs to be treated differently, so that such an act is not repeated,” he said. 
 
It is interesting to recap what the law says on the subject. Under the Indian Penal Code’s Section 309, attempting suicide is a punishable offence. The provision says: Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with a fine, or with both
 
The government had spoken about deleting the provision in the 1970s, but little came of it. The Bombay High Court, in 1987, had held that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution includes the right to live as well as the right to end one’s life if one desires, and had struck down Section 309. The Supreme Court upheld the view in 1994. But, in 1996, a five-judge constitutional bench of the apex court ruled otherwise, and held that the fundamental right to life did not include the right to die. It held that Section 309 was constitutionally valid
 
That remains the law of the land today, though the Law Commission, in a 2008 report, had recommended the decriminalization of Section 309. Chew on this!

 

 

By John B Monteiro
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Comment on this article

  • N. Frank, India/Ksa

    Sat, Jun 23 2012

    Whoes' crime is below

    Kasargod: Poor Performance Causes 2 Class X Students to Commit Suicide

    Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (RD/SN)

    Kasargod, Jun 22: Two class X students committed suicide, here on Thursday June 21

  • N. Frank, India/Ksa

    Tue, Jun 19 2012

    Ted, In my opinion, it is not 87% to 98%, but only when there is 100% mental disorientation a person commits suicide.

    But that doesnt mean 98% or 100% of the farmers who as you say commited suicides, were mentally unstable.

    They were perfectly normal like you and me,even at the time of committing suicide. But the burdens of debts and family responsibilities became beyond their known means to handle, And since they were perfectly normal and not mentally unstable they felt that committing suicide was a better option, than face the consiquences of shame and harassment in the future.

    If I was to be in their place, do you think I would have done anything different.?????

  • Ted, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 18 2012

    300,000 Farmers in India Commited Suicide in the last 15 years .Of the 1 Million people who commit suicide worldwide, 32% are Indians followed closed by China at 30%.It is estimated that from 87% to 98% of suicides are committed by people with some type of mental disorder.

  • A.S.Mathew, U.S.A.

    Mon, Jun 18 2012

    When people are at the end of the rope in life, it may be broken relationship-financial ruin-severe
    pain through their sickness and any
    total despondency from the family or society-extrem shame etc can lead people to suicide which can't be classified as a crime at all.

    The suicide rate among the elderly
    is the highest in Japan. But in some other countries, the young generation is in front of other age group in suicide. A vast majority of the suicide prone people can be rescued on time through personal help. Parents and friends must watch for the depressed people and try to help them before they jump over the bridge. I do remember one young person whose father is my personal friend. This young man began to get mad at everybody. His grand mother requested me to talk with him to know why he is very mad at everybody. When I got him to talk with, he was mad at me, very patiently when I talked with him, he told me repeatedly about taking his life. He loved a beautiful girl and she broke her relationship with him, and he wanted to finish his life. I spent a long time with him and finally he started crying and now leading a happy life. Giving the right kind of help can save a lot of lives.

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 18 2012

    11) Success will come in no time or immediately or comes only after failing wherein a patiently waiting person thinks and manifests right decisions through ones rationale mind.
    12) The greatest defect of we citizens is we discourage immediately whoever fails and hail immediately whoever is success. True, we have to hail the succeeded ones but also should strengthen, pacify and console the looser.
    13) As I remember one Mr. xxx person was not good in studies who had failed in SSLC in three subjects. Mr. xxx was not much desperate but his home members face was so miserable to see and Mr. xxx was just hiding himself rather than facing them. After so much wrath Mr.xxx took a challenge to face in next attempt examination and passed in all the three subjects wherein he strengthened confidence in himself within and joyous of his own merit for his future career.
    14) Ten Commandments must be taught, explained and should pursue every human being beginning from childhood.
    15) If thou shall not kill is a crime then killing himself by self is also a crime.
    16) In my opinion morally and legally killing of him by self is the same crimes as anybody kill others.

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 18 2012

    I agree with many of the points explicitly elaborated by N. Frank, India/Ksa concerning suicides.
    My point of view is some what similar to his thoughts although I would like to specify a few of them here.
    1) Lack of family relationship within the family members.
    2) Lack of self confidence.
    3) Lack of counseling
    4) Lack of love and mutual understanding within the family.
    5) Divorces are so much that a husband and wife have no mutual understanding and suspecting each others love within and among themselves. Will not the childern follow in their footsteps
    6) Lack of morals within in the family.
    7) Parents should encourage their children to face life at any cost.
    8) Parents have no time in the name of in the quick bucks/ short cut money.
    9) Parents are busy in acquiring money for luxuries for themselves and dowry to their daughters. Continued…

  • N. Frank, India/Ksa

    Sun, Jun 17 2012

    Dear Walter, being is KSA, and living among the Pakistanis, I fully agree with you that Pakistanis are very nice people.

    But the only problem is, if you are not on your guard, they will stab you in the back. (This is my experience)

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Sat, Jun 16 2012

    Whether suicide is crime or an achievement...HE only knows...with a little brain of mine I feel it is nonsense...those want to commit suicide..let them go ahead..!!!??? We can not treat sick minded people who want to commit suicide...???? As we can not afford to treat who are really sick and want to live....!!!!????

  • Walter Pereira, Magalore/ Dublin, Ireleand

    Sat, Jun 16 2012

    Dear all,
    This is my third comment on this article.
    I was a Navy Lieutenant commander in 1971 Indo-Pak war. My colleague was Commander Martis, who was an expert in underwater warfare.He laid mines under the Pak Navy Vessels and sank 5 of them in Karachi harbour. There is a street named after him at Mallikatta. Sadly, he expired recently.
    I was commanding Officer of INS Brahmaputra, which was an anti-submarine frigate. Under my command, we bombed Karachi harbour to glory for 2 days, using Ack-Ack and 60.33mm British guns.
    My point is that, people should stop politicizing anything. Politics is poison.
    Especially Mr. Shetty - who seems to be a well educated person.
    Suicide is an option left to the person concerned. No foreign hand in that.
    Now I teach strategic warfare to young cadets at Dublin.
    One of the subject I cover is - How to overcome depression.
    All students,teenagers and young kids go through some kind of depression at one time or another.
    What they need is counseling and a helping hand. Let us help our young ones.
    Have a nice day all of you.

  • Walter Pereira, Magalore/ Dublin, Ireleand

    Sat, Jun 16 2012

    Good day Mr. Shetty,
    I will tell you a small story.
    I was working in a VLCC (Very large crude carrier) back in 2004.
    All the officers and crew were from Pakistan. The Company's name was B H Singapore.
    Being the only Indian working as a Chief Engineer, I was always on my guard. Believe me, the Pakistani's are one of the best persons on earth. Do not believe what you read in newspapers.
    Whenever the Vessel reached Karachi or Port Kassim, I was showered with the best food in the world and of course, the best of scotch.
    The western culture has nothing to do with these suicides.
    People are wonderful in this world, including you. But I request you not to be biased.
    Wishing you and your family a nice day Mr. Shetty.
    Have a great day!

  • w, Magalore/ Dublin, Ireleand

    Sat, Jun 16 2012

    Dear Mr. Shetty,
    I have no issues with you.
    You seem to be a well educated and a smart person.
    My point is that, people will commit suicide for trivial reasons. Parental guidance is very important, especially when they are teenagers. This is time they go through tremendous mental agony.
    What a tragic loss when a young kid commits suicide when they have the potential to reach the sky one day.
    Dear Mr. Shetty, why not start a help line to the potential suicides. I will be there with you. I will back you up all the way.
    I teach young kids at Dublin University of Science. The first question I ask them is that - did anyone beat you, molested or took wrong advantage of you.
    If they say yes, I call 911. Within 3 miniuts the cops will take the wrong does.

  • mohan prabhu, mangalore, ottawa

    Sat, Jun 16 2012

    Thank you Mr. Monteiro for your thoughts on this very important subject. As Will Durant writes in his famous history book, Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume 1, (p.502)
    “Life is a Stage with One Entry and Many Exits”. He adds:
    “Suicide was permitted under the laws of Akbar to the old, or the incurably diseased, and to those who wished to offer themselves as sacrifices to the gods. Thousands of Hindus have made their last oblation by starving themselves to death, or burying themselves in snow, or covering themselves with cow dung and setting it on fire, or allowing crocodiles to devour them in the mouths of the Ganges. Among the Brahmins, a form of hara-kiri arose, by winch suicide was committed to avenge an injury or point a wrong. When one of the Rajput kings levied a subsidy upon the princely caste, several of the wealthiest Brahmins stabbed themselves to death in his presence, laying upon him the supposedly most terrible and effective curses of all – that of a dying priest.
    The Brahmanical law-books required that one who attempted suicide and failed should perform the severest penances.”
    Think about it. A judgement of the British Columbia Supreme Court given two days ago granted a woman who was suffering from a debilitating disease the right to die, saying the right to life enshrined in the Canadian Constitution implies a right to die as well.

  • Rakesh shetty, mangalore

    Sat, Jun 16 2012


    @ Walter Pereira, Magalore/ Dublin, Ireleand.

    SUICIDER DON'T HAVE ANY TIME TO TAKE HELP LINE OPTION WHEN THEY COMMIT SUICIDE.

    THEY ARE NOT PLAYING KBC GAME.

    AS I SAID EARLIER THIS IS BECAUSE OF WESTERN CULTURE ACTIVITIES IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE AND IMPROPER GUIDANCE.

    PARENTS AND TEACHERS ROLE HERE IS MAIN IMPORTANT. THEY COULD GUIDE IN ALL THE WAY TO SAVE THEM.

  • N. Frank, India/Ksa

    Sat, Jun 16 2012

    Mr. Deepak
    You are totally right in saying branding suicides as crime will not help reduce the frequency of suicides, but proper counselling does.

    But in several cases, there is no chance for counselling, like suicides due to harassment for dowry, failing in examinations, fear of being exposed of wrong doings and the like.

    In some cases though there is time for conselling, people are so busy taking care of their ownselves and families, there is hardly any time or the will to take care of others problems, or ask counsellors to help those in need.

    It is not only unsolveable problems that drive people towards suicide, but there are instances, where over wealth, no problems, but just lack of interest in life drive people towards suicide.

  • N. Frank, India/ksa

    Fri, Jun 15 2012

    Dear Walter, People commit suicide not when all other options fail, but when they dont want to think or try other options at all.

    For example as you said jilted lover, he or she has other options, than to end life.

    In many cases, lure towards suicide is a temoporary situation. If it could be overcome, many suicides can be prevented specially the one's like break up of love, living alone etc.

  • Deepak, Mangalore / Delhi

    Fri, Jun 15 2012

    Mr Frank,

    the real question is whether branding suicides as crime solve the issue of suicides. Does it reduce the frequency of suicides?

    The answer is NO. In our Indian societal structure (I am not focusing on Japanese as we are dealing with Indian law), Suicidal tendencies are opted by person as a last resort. They fail to reason any hope in life.

    What people need is counselling not more physical punishment (ask any psychologist). The trauma of conviction and imprisonment will aggravate the already frail situation of the person.

  • Walter Pereira, Magalore/ Dublin, Ireleand

    Fri, Jun 15 2012

    Dear all,
    People opt for suicide when all other options fail.
    A jilted lover, a sick person, a person living alone etc. etc commit suicide.
    I do not think it is a crime. One opts to end the miseries with their own hands.
    There has to be help lines for these people, where they can call and talk to a counselor before taking this extreme step.
    Have a nice day all of you.

  • N. Frank, India/Ksa

    Thu, Jun 14 2012

    It is of very little value, to the person who wants to commit suicide, whether his/her actions are considered a crime of not.

    The important thing is why people commit suicide. The two examples given above are not reasons for suicide, such people should be punished, and allowed to commit suicide.They are burden to the society,since their mindset will not change even after counselling.

    The actual people who need help are those who dont want to commit suicide, yet circumstances force them to do so.

    Examples are.- harassment/anticipation of torture from crditors/goondas for not paying the debts on time. Unbearable pain due to sickness, extreeme poverty unable to make both ends meet, and the like.

    In Japan many commit suicide to save the honour of the family when unable to pay credit. In mangalore a school girl commited, out of fear, when teachers told her they would complain to her mother about her boyfriend/friends.

    Suicide is a very complicated, uneviable and fearful situaion which needs lot of study to identify which suicides are a crime and which are not.

  • Dilip, mangalore

    Wed, Jun 13 2012

    I totally agree with Mr.Rakesh shetty.

    Most of them ar involving in this is young generations. so everyone should aware of this and take precaution to avoid such bad incidents.

  • Deepak, Mangalore / Delhi

    Wed, Jun 13 2012

    I completely agree with the article. It is high time that the draconian IPC section 309 was struck down. Research in the field of psychology has conclusively proved the health aspects related with suicidal tendencies and depression and other adjustment problems of individuals.
    Courts and the legal system as a whole should understand the plight of the people suffering with mental illness.

    Note:
    I agree that suicides are alarmingly high in individualistic western culture. This does not mean that in collective culture (Indian culture being one) do not have any incidence of suicides. It is wrong hence to say that everyone should follow Indian culture.

  • Rohan, dubai

    Wed, Jun 13 2012

    i dnt agree with the comment mae by MR SHETTY ... no one has told us to follow any culture. suicide is a state of mind for which depression and other personal factors are more stronger than culture...Almighty has given us free will and mind to what we want and when we go far away for our mistakes culture is not to be blamed its our values and ourself o be blamed for the wrong decesion made ....

  • sudhir, mangalore

    Wed, Jun 13 2012

    The act of suicide is a Crime, a Crime on self, but in the same time this is not to be considered as an offence under court of law. The real remedy to this is Councelling as rightly mentioned in the article. How can you punish a person, who was already taken an extreem step of extreme punishment to the body? the individual has to be treated by a Pshychiatric / a professional doctor and provide him/her-family the necessary support to come back to life in normal terms. This is when a sucide attempt ( failed) happens. But the real question is How it can be reduced? The only way is thru real practise of spirituality, a broader understanding of the self, the ever changing nature of this world, nothing is static here, everything is dynamic and changes, so whatevere the situation be..that changes. Time is the medicine, but one has to have the awarness. Society plays a major role here, social help institutions must conduct stress releaving/ health-happiness programes, for all age groups, buid a strong mind in the individual. To be prepared is the only permanent solution, as causes or events can't be eliminated. the effect ( in this case suicide/ or depression state) can be very well addressed.

  • Vincent, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 13 2012

    Rakesh,

    Are you recommending that in line with Indian Culture, we encourage the practices of Sati, Female Infanticide, Caste System etc? Do you honestly feel this is better for society?
    Do you feel any regret for example in communicating in English considering this is not an 'Indian' language? Do you shun the Automobile, Motor Vehicles, Rail & Air Travel as these are all Western Technologies.
    Do you not wear Leather Shoes and Slippers considering these are made from Sacred Cow leather?????
    I do not imagine you have the intelligence to understand why an individual may commit suicide. You would be smart to educate yourself accordingly.

  • Rakesh shetty, mangalore

    Wed, Jun 13 2012

    MAIN REASON FOR THIS SUICIDE CASE IS FOLLOWING WESTERN CULTURE ACTIVITIES IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE.

    PARENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD GIVE PROPER ADVISE AGAINST THIS IN SCHOOLS,COLLEGE,HOME ETC.

    EVERYONE SHOULD FOLLOW INDIAN CULTURE.THEN ONLY WE CAN REDUCE THIS CRIME JAI HO.


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