Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 305
repealedAbetment of suicide of child or insane person
If any person under eighteen years of age, any insane person, any delirious person, any idiot, or any person in a state of intoxication commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Why this exists
The law treats abetting the suicide of vulnerable people—children and those who cannot fully understand or control their actions—as extremely serious, because such people are less able to resist manipulation, pressure, or exploitation by others. It reflects a judgment that helping a vulnerable person end their life is closer to causing their death directly. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the equivalent provision is Section 108.
Common misconceptions
- Myth: This section punishes the person who attempted suicide.
Fact: It punishes the person who abetted (helped or encouraged) the suicide, not the vulnerable victim.