NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of reported suicide after alleged custodial torture in Delhi
The NHRC has issued notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.
Suicide
Bombay HC upholds conviction & life sentence of man who slit his girlfriend’s throat after she withdrew their marriage application
“The specific defence of the accused was not that the victim died because of his assault rather it was that he inflicted injuries on himself and lost consciousness. Firstly, he suggested that the victim had committed suicide by inflicting those injuries on herself and secondly, he feigned ignorance about what happened after he inflicted those injuries on himself.”
Petty family quarrels do not amount to dowry harassment: Gujarat High Court
“To prove the offence of dowry death, it must be shown that there was cruelty and harassment within 7 years of marriage and that it was meted out for or in connection with, demand for dowry”.
Merely stating bail proposal of accused is “under consideration” not sufficient to deprive co-accused benefit of parity: Bombay High Court
The order rejecting appeal against the bail must reflect application of mind and record reasons which indicates consideration of the facts of the case and such reasoning forms the bedrock of the doctrine of fairness in administrative law.
Merely because suicide is committed in parental home and not matrimonial home, does not mean it is not a case of dowry death: Delhi HC dismisses bail application
The expression “soon before her death” in Section 304-B of Penal Code, 1860 must be read as an expression of continuity of time and not an expression of mere length of time. The legislature in its wisdom had used the phrase as “soon before” and not “immediately before”.
SC takes note of disturbing pattern of student suicides; Constitutes National Task Force to prevent commission of suicides in higher educational institutions
Referring to relevant reports and studies, Supreme Court pointed out that the number of student suicides has now surpassed suicides committed by farmers due to agrarian distress, with a four percent rise in 2024 alone.
S. 306 IPC | SC acquits family of four accused of abetting man’s suicide by blackmailing him and trapping in love affair
“Even if the suicide note is taken as correct and genuine, there was no act of incitement on the part of the accused persons proximate to the date on which the deceased committed suicide.”
Section 306 IPC | Hyperboles employed in exchanges should not be glorified as an instigation to commit suicide: Supreme Court
Taking strict note of casual resorting of S. 306 IPC, the Court said that conduct of the proposed accused and the deceased, their interactions and conversations preceding the unfortunate death of the deceased should be approached from a practical point of view and not divorced from day-to-day realities of life.
Criminal Law Roundup: A quick recap of the top criminal cases from November 2024
Top criminal cases on quashing of proceedings, arrest, bail, acquittal, and more.
Refusal to marry in a relationship does not amount to criminal liability for abetment of suicide: Supreme Court
“To convict a person for abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC, there has to be a clear mens rea on the part of the accused to abet such a crime and it requires an active act or a direct act leading to the commission of suicide.
Section 498A IPC protection is available to woman even in marriage with the ‘colour’ of legality: Kerala HC
Kerala High Court said that the marriage under the customary or personal law, which is otherwise valid, has to be treated as valid between parties to that marriage for all practical purposes, unless and until it is challenged by any of the parties to that marriage, and declared void on any valid grounds.
Criminal Law Roundup | A quick recap of top criminal law cases from October 2024
Read about the significant criminal law matters heard and decided by the Supreme Court and High Courts in October 2024
‘No direct involvement in crime’; Gujarat HC grants bail to a child in conflict with law accused of abetting suicide of family
The family of four committed suicide near railway tracks, allegedly due to atrocious and forcible demand for money which they owed to co-accused.
[Rohith Vemula Suicide] ‘Despite best efforts of Investigating Officer, no evidence could be collected’; Telangana HC disposes of petitions after prosecution files closure report
The Telangana High Court noted that multiple issues could have driven Rohith Vemula to commit suicide and further, it could also not be established that the actions of the petitioners had driven Rohith Vemula to commit suicide.
Wife attending midnight calls from unknown numbers despite husband’s objections; Not abetment to suicide as defined in S.107, IPC: J&K and Ladakh HC
The Court opined that this was a clear case where based on evidence collected by the Investigating Officer, respondent may, be held responsible for the deceased’s suicide, yet it cannot be said that the suicide committed by the deceased was abetted by the respondent.
Utterances such as “go and hang yourself” spoken while venting out anger, can’t become an ingredient for abetment to suicide under S. 306, IPC: Karnataka HC
The Court quashed proceedings for abetment of suicide initiated against the husband who told a Priest of Church “to go hang himself” for having an illicit affair with his wife.
A woman cannot be held liable for abetment to suicide, if a lover commits suicide due to love failure: Delhi High Court
The allegation with respect to applicants teasing the deceased in regard to the failure of his romantic relationship with applicant does not appear to be instigation which would amount to abetment of suicide in terms of Section 306 of the Penal Code, 1860.
CBI takes over probe and registers FIR; Kerala High Court closes veterinary student’s death case
A second-year student studying in College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad was found hanging in the hostel due to alleged torture and ragging.
Supreme Court stays criminal proceedings against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for organising protest over Contractor’s suicide
Supreme Court also stayed proceedings against Karnataka Ministers Ramalinga Reddy, MB Patil, and Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala over the protest in 2022.
‘Allegations deemed unadmitted without affidavits’; Calcutta High Court disposes of petition alleging Police inaction in suicide case
Emphasising the unfortunate nature of the case, Calcutta High Court urged the petitioner to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.