Cannot convict man for abetment of wife's suicide based solely on past quarrels: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a man cannot be convicted for the abetment of his wife’s suicide based solely on past quarrels or strained marital relations.

In a judgment delivered by Justices JK Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar, the Court emphasized that mere allegations of harassment or emotional distress are insufficient to sustain a conviction under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalizes the abetment of suicide.

The case involved the death of a woman who suffered fatal burn injuries at her husband's residence in Uttarakhand. The Court clarified that to secure a conviction for abetment of suicide, there must be clear evidence of a direct connection between the alleged actions of the accused and the victim’s suicide.

The Court further noted, “Merely because there was some dispute between the parties does not establish the act of abetment. Nothing on record directly links the appellant’s actions to the suicide of the deceased."