Abetment of suicide

Context: After a TV star allegedly killed herself on the set of a TV show, her co-actor has been booked for abetment to suicide.

About abetment of suicide:

• If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide shall be punished under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 with either a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine or both.
• Abetment of suicide is a serious offence that is tried in a Sessions court and is cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
• A cognizable offence is one in which a police officer can make an arrest without a warrant from a court.
• A non-bailable offence means bail is granted to the accused at the discretion of the court and not as a matter of right.
• A non-compoundable offence is one in which the case cannot be withdrawn by the complainant even when the complainant and the accused have reached a compromise.
• Despite the intention of the accused to drive a person to commit suicide, abetment of suicide is not the same as murder.
• In the case of a murder, the final ‘act’ of causing the death of a person is committed by the accused, which is not the case in abetment of suicide.

Source: Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Q.1) With reference to the writs issued by the Courts in India, consider the following statements:

1. Mandamus will not lie against a private organization unless it is entrusted with a public duty.
2. Mandamus will not lie against a Company even though it may be a Government Company.
3. Any public minded person can be a petitioner to move the Court to obtain the writ of Quo Warranto.

Which of the statements given above are correct? (2022)

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) With reference to India, consider the following statements:

1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such accused is locked up in police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2021)

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2