SUICIDE: Some Reflections

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

There have been debates, discussion and judicial pronouncements on the right to life and there have also been deliberations and judicial verdicts on the right not to live. The right to life has been constitutionally and judicially recognized as the most sacrosanct of rights. And now, the highest court, by its recent judgement in Nagabhushan has also recognized a person's right to take away his own life. The court referred to different forms of suicide known in our country, viz. Jauhars of ladies belonging to royal families to avoid being dishonoured by the enemies, Sati, Samadhi, Prayopaneshan and Atmarpana.

However barring few exceptions, none of these are the motivations behind suicides today. The modern day life is full of frustrations and those who choose to take the extreme step do so out of sheer desperation and helplessness. It is a sharp reminder of individual unhappiness and social sickness.

The decriminalization of attempted suicide by the Supreme Court has been by and large hailed as a landmark judgement, but has at the same time, evoked fears and apprehensions in the minds of many. This small book comprising short articles by various scholar representing different disciplines delves on various issues surrounding the act of attempted suicide and the ramifications of the Supreme Court judgement. It is written in a lucid style and language which makes it very readable. It would be of great interest not only to a law person or an academician but also to every enlightened individual- whatever his discipline or avocation.

About the Author

Kusum M.A. (Pol. Science) L.L.M.(criminology) from Delhi University is working at the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, a premier legal research Institute in the country. She has authored and co-authored several books and projects, and is a regular writer for various leading newspapers, law journals and magazines. She has been a columnist for Caravan and Imprint. Some of her books are: Juvenile Delinquency; A Socio-legal Study (1979); Harassad Husbands, (1993); Women-March Towards Dignity 1993.

In 1977, she was awarded a UNDP Human Rights Fellowship to study the issue of human rights of convicted and released offenders in Australia and New Zealand. Besides. She has worked in the Law Commission of India for a year on deputation. She is presently appointed by the Legal Aid Board, Delhi High Court, to conduct conciliation proceedings in matrimonial cases. She is also a member of the Board of Director of the International Associations of Bioethics based in Australia, and has participated and presented papers in international Conferences in Amsterdam, new Zealand , France, Swedan, etc,