The Indian government on Wednesday said that it will remove section 309 from the Indian Penal Code, under which anyone attempting to commit suicide is punishable with a jail term of up to one year and a fine.

Government said that 18 states and 4 Union Territories are in favour of the decision, according to Times Now.

Minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju had said in Lok Sabha in August that the Law Commission of India in its 210th report on “Humanization and Decriminalisation of Attempt to Suicide” had recommended that section 309 of IPC needs to be effaced from the statute book.

According to the report, the repeal of the anachronistic law contained in section 309 of the Indian Penal Code would save many lives and relieve the distressed of his suffering.

Source:TimesOfIndia

• 905 arrested for drunk driving during the weekend: Police
• CEB trade union warns of strike over Kandy assault
• August School Holidays limited to ONE week
• Road accidents claim 69 lives in one week: Police
• Do NOT misuse 118/ 119 Emergency Hotlines: Police