Union government has been trying to change some laws which were made during the British rule. It had asked the states to give their opinions on the same.

The first one to go is the Section 309 of Indian Penal Code by which committing suicide is a crime. The Law Commission of India has stated in its report, ‘No one tries to take away his life by opting for suicide. Any person opts for the ultimate step only when there are pathetic conditions in his/her life. Booking such ones, if survived in the suicide attempt, is so pathetic thing’.

With the observation of the commission, the suicide section may be amended. In the past, Rajya Sabha too had given its nod to abolish the inhuman section. The step could not take its shape as the Lok Sabha was abolished at that time. Committing the suicide is a crime only in the countries like Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Singapore in the world.

On the other side, the Standing Committee of the Parliament has recommended the changing of Indian Penal Code – 1860, Indian Evidence Act-1872, Criminal Procedure Code -1973 as most of the rules in those were framed during the British rule.

The Union Minister for Law has given the above reply for the questions asked by some members.