IPC §309

Attempt to commit suicide

No correspondenceConfidence: mediumStatus: cross checkedcross statute dependency(observed)
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Indian Penal Code, 1860 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)
Last updated 2026-05-01 · Input coverage: full

Compiled by AI-assisted tools. Text verified against official sources where indicated. Field-level labels (AI-indicated / AI-inferred / Text-verified) apply per edge metadata. Verify current bail/cognizable status against official sources before relying on procedural claims. Last updated: 2026-04-28.

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Comparison

Old law
IPC §309
Attempt to commit suicide

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 3[or with fine, or with both.]

What changedAI-inferred

IPC 309 (attempt to commit suicide; simple imprisonment up to 1 year with fine) is not carried into BNS as a general offence. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 section 115 creates a statutory presumption of severe stress in attempted-suicide cases and effectively decriminalises the general offence. BNS preserves only a narrow public-servant-protection variant: BNS 226 criminalises attempting suicide with intent to coerce a public servant. Practitioners should consult the Mental Healthcare Act for the live treatment framework.

Old position

IPC 309 is concerned with Attempt to commit suicide. Attempt to commit suicide

New position

BNS has no direct counterpart in the new code.

IPC 309 (attempt to commit suicide; simple imprisonment up to 1 year with fine) is not carried into BNS as a general offence. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 section 115 creates a statutory presumption of severe stress in attempted-suicide cases and effectively decriminalises the general offence....

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

IPC 309 (attempt to commit suicide; simple imprisonment up to 1 year with fine) is not carried into BNS as a general offence. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 section 115 creates a statutory presumption of severe stress in attempted-suicide cases and effectively decriminalises the general offence. BNS preserves only a narrow public-servant-protection variant: BNS 226 criminalises attempting suicide with intent to coerce a public servant. Practitioners should consult the Mental Healthcare Act for the live treatment framework.

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

Cases registered or proceedings initiated before 1 July 2024 are governed by IPC 309. Where IPC 309 has no successor in the new code, the legal effect depends on whether the matter is one of pre-BNS repeal, externalisation to a sister statute, or constitutional displacement — see the change-note above and the linked sources for specifics.

Frequently asked

IPC 309 has no direct counterpart in the new code. See the change-note above for the specific reason — common patterns include pre-BNS repeal by an earlier amending act, externalisation to a sister statute (e.g., Legal Metrology Act, Mental Healthcare Act), constitutional displacement by a Supreme Court ruling, or editorial omission.

Government source

The statutory text above is compiled from the Act as published by the Government of India. The links open the full Act; use the PDF's search to find the section number. The linked government pages offer no link to a single section.

Newlaws.in is an independent site, not a government body. The mappings and notes on this page are its own AI-assisted comparison and are not published or endorsed by any government body.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IPC §309 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-10-29, https://newlaws.in/ipc/309.

Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01

Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.