“Marital Disputes Not Abetment to Suicide”: Bombay HC
Court quashes case against wife, says intent to provoke suicide must be proven
- Bombay High Court rules wife not liable for husband’s suicide
- Says marital disputes don’t amount to abetment
- Stresses need for clear intent under law
- FIR and trial against woman quashed
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 1st April: In a key ruling, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has held that a wife cannot be held responsible for her husband’s suicide solely on the basis of marital disputes or domestic quarrels.
The case pertained to a 2019 incident in Maharashtra’s Amravati district, where a man died by suicide after allegedly facing ongoing marital issues. Following his death, the man’s father filed a complaint accusing the daughter-in-law of harassment, verbal abuse, and frequent disputes, leading to the registration of a case under abetment to suicide.
Challenging the FIR, the woman approached the High Court seeking quashing of the case and subsequent proceedings.
Hearing the matter, the court observed that abetment to suicide requires a clear and direct intention to instigate or compel a person to take their life.
“Mere marital disputes, verbal abuse, or leaving for one’s parental home cannot be categorised as abetment to suicide,” the court stated.
It further clarified that ordinary disagreements or differences between spouses do not fall within the scope of Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code or the corresponding provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Accepting the woman’s petition, the court quashed the FIR and all related proceedings, stating that no prima facie case of abetment was made out.
