 bill no i of  2012 indian penal code (amendment) bill, 2012 a billfurther to amend the indian penal code, 1860be it enacted by parliament in the sixty-third year of the republic of india as follows:— statement of objects and reasonssection 309 of ipc provides for imprisonment and/or fine for those who have attempted to commit suicide this section has been considered to be in violation of article 21 of the constitution and not in adherence with the modern day view of the state providing care to its citizensthe law commission of india recommended its repeal as early as 1971 and, once again in, 2008 in the recent report, the law commission says: "it is unreasonable to inflict punishment upon a person who, on account of family discord, destitution, loss of a dear relation or other cause of a like nature, overcomes the interest of self-preservation and decides to take his own life in such a case, the unfortunate person deserves sympathy, counselling and appropriate treatment, and certainly not prison" this proposal of the law commission has met with approval from twenty five state governments, thereby underlining the overwhelming support for repealing this inhumane provisionthis inhumane provision is a form of double punishment and today remains as a crime only in a few countries such as singapore, pakistan, bangladesh and malaysia, besides india the counterview that decriminalising the attempt to suicide will encourage people to take their own lives has no basis as the international association for suicide prevention has pointed out, there is nothing to show that suicide rates have increased following its decriminalisation this view is also supported by the world health organization and the indian psychiatric societyin the past also, the indian  penal code (amendment) bill, 1972 was introduced and passed by the rajya sabha omitting section 309 but it lapsed in the lok sabha consequent upon the dissolution of sixth lok sabha in july, 1979 the law commission and the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs have consistently advocated the need to reform and rationalise the criminal law of the country in view of providing necessary medical care and not harassment to those who are distressed enough to attempt to take their own lives, it is necessary to repeal section 309 in the indian penal codehence, this billkanimozhi annexure extracts from the indian penal code, 1860 (45 of 1860)   section 309 attempt to commit suicide whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both         rajya   sabha———— a billfurther to amend the indian penal code, 1860————(shrimati kanimozhi, mp)mgipmrnd—2084rs(s3)—09-08-2012