CASE COMMENTS

GIAN KAUR vs. puNJAB: A REQUIEM

FOR REASON?
P. Ramaswamy"
A. INTRODUCTION
The issue of suicide raises many fundamental questions about the very nature
of liberty. The temptation to indulge oneself in jurisprudential debate is very
strong. However, the only real basis for determining the validity or otherwise of
criminal ising suicide is the Constitution. In this Article I will attempt to
confine myself to Constitutional issues.
The genesis of the debate is in the 42nd Law Commission Report, 1971,
which recommended that S. 3Q91 of the Indian Penal Code, 186()2be repealed.
This was followed by the decisions in State v. Sanjay Kumar' and Court
on its own motion v. Yogesh Sharma.' where the court observed that S. 309
I.P.C. is anachronistic.

Tbe constitutionality of the provision was assailed in two High courts which
came to different conclusions. The High Court of Bombay in Maruti Shripati Dubal
v. State of Maharasiurtr held that S. 309, I.P.C. was held to be violative of Art.
14 and Art. 21. Art. 14 was held to be violated as S. 309, LP.C. is discriminatory
in nature and arbitrary. Art. 21 was construed to include the "right to die", making
S. 309, LP.C. invalid.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court in Chenna Jagodeeshwar
& AnT. v.
State" held that S. 309 of the LP.C. is not violative of the constitution. The
argument mat there is a right to die in Art. 21 was rejected. The court held that
S. 309 LP.C. is not violative of Art. 14 as the courts have sufficient power to
mitigate harsh punishment.

*
1

V Year B.A., LL.B. (Hons.), NLSIU.

S. 309 makes an attempt and any act towards suicide a crime.

Hereinafter I.P.c.

1985 c-u.r. 93l.

(Unreported) Cri. Revision No. 238705.

1987 CriLl.

1988

743.

c-u.r. 549.

174
This debate seemed to have ended with P. RathinamlN. Patnaik v. Union of
India? where the Supreme Court held
S. 309, I.P.C. is violative of Art. 21 of
the Constitution, as there exists utfder
. 21 a "right to die". The court however
rejected the contention that Art.' 14 is <wolated on the ground that there was
sentencing discretion.
'

The question has been reopened in Smt. Gian Kaur v. Punjab.8 The appellants
in this case were convicted under S. 306'I.P:C.;9 in appeal, it was contended that
abetment of suicide cannot be a crime as it only amounts to assisting another person
assert a fundamental right. Thus, S. 306 I.P.C. is equally violative of Art. 21, was
the contention. The entire question including the validity of the decision in
Riuhinam came to be referred to a Constitution Bench, given the difficulties in
holding S. 306 also invalid.
B. IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES
The problem of suicide bas always led to various contentious issues being
thrown up. This hotch-potch of issues and questions has led to a great deal of
confusion in the very identification of issues. It is submitted, with respect, that the
issue is not either the right to die or even the right to choose.l? nor is it that S. 309
is arbitrary, insofar as it makes no distinction between various forms of suicide. The
question appears, merely to be: whether it is just, fair and reasonable to punish a
person who has attempted to commit suicide?
The answer to this question is the only necessary exercise. This has to be
answered solely-on the basis of the Constitution. I I Other considerations, though
valid, are certainly irrelevant, within the framework of the Constitution.
The Constitution Bench has dealt with the same two issues that the Division
Bench had addressed; namely, whether there is a "right to die" under Art. 21? And
whether S. 309, l.P.C. is arbitrary and therefore violative of Art. 14?
This disaggregated approach itself may be the object of criticism. 12 Certainly
such an approach is not warranted given the decisions in R.C. Cooper v. Union of
India'? and Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, 14 where the doctrine of exclusivity

1994(3) SCC 394.

1996(2) SCALE 881.

S. 306 punishes the abetment of successful suicide.

10

Dr. Rajeev Dhavan, "The Right to Die", The Hi"du (April 12, 1996). In this Article Dr. Dhavan
has argued that the question is not the right to die but the right to choose. He has asserted that
the right to choose is part of the liberties of a person.
II Mr. Justice Verma has certainly endorsed this view. See, S",I. Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab.
1996(2) SCALE 881 at p. 886 (para 18).
12

Dr. Rajeev Dhavan, op. cit.

13

1970(1) SCC 248.

14

1978(1) SCC 248.

175
was rejected. Hence, it is submitted, the court should have framed the issues in a
more holistic manner.
C.

IS THERE A RIGHT TO DIE?

The contention that was taken in this case: if there is a right to die, the
abetment of suicide cannot be criminal, exposes the infirmity of recognising a
positive right to die. If a right to die is recognised, it automatically means both
S. 306 and S. 305 which punish abetment of suicide are invalid. It will be
catastrophic if S. 305, which punishes, more severely, the abetment of suicide by
a minor or an insane person, is held invalid.
In P. Rathinam v. Union Of India'? it held that since Art. 21 recognised the
right to live it also recognised the right to die, as fundamental rights have both
positive and negative aspects. The Division Bench held the view that the right to
live is on different footing as the negative of the right to live will mean extinction
of the positive aspect, is unfounded. The court held that the right to live under Art.
21 has in its trial the right not to live a forced life.
The Constitution Bench has disagreed with the Division Bench on this ground.
It held that the decisions which hold that a right to associate includes the right not

to associate etc., merely hold that the right to do an act includes a right not to do
that act. Protection from intrusion does not mean a right to discontinue the exercise
of the right to life. Further, when rights like the right not to associate was exercised,
there was no positive or overt act; when a person commits suicide there is certainly
an overt and positive act."
Therefore, the Constitution Bench held, "... Right to Life is a natural right
embodied in Art. 21 but suicide is an unnatural termination or extinction of life and
therefore, incompatible and inconsistent with the concept of 'right to life' ..."17
This is consistent with the view taken by Prof. B.B. Pande.f It is quite
anomalous when, the court is expanding Art. 21 and including various rights to
include a negative aspect, and thereby reverse development.
The recognition of the right to die does throw up some constitutional and
jurisprudential issues that are left unanswered.l? One basic constitutional issue is
whether the right to die means waiver of the right to live. If the right to die is seen
as a waiver of the right to live, then there is conflict with the decision of the -

15

1996 (2) SCALE 881.

16

[bid., per Verma

J., at pp. 887-888 (para 20).

17 [bid., p. 888 (para 21).

18

Prof. B.B. Pande, "Right to life or death? For Bharat both cannot be right",

1994 (4)

see

(J).

19 See, Lawrence Liang and Bhavana Thakur, P. Rathinam/N, Patnaik v. Union of India, 7 Student
Adv., p. 126 (1995),

176
Supreme Court in Basheshar Nath v. C.l.T.,2owhere it was held that fundamental
rights cannot be waived.
Further, if a right is recognised, there must be, in the Hohfeldian .scheme, a
corresponding duty. In the case of a fundamental right the duty has to be on the
state. If this is correct, it will mean that the state has a duty to kill, or at least
provide adequate facilities for suicide!"
Hence, it is quite clear that Ole Hon'ble Division Bench erred. However, a
certain confusion has crept in due to the observations of the Constitution Bench,
it bas held:
n..
The right to life' including (he right to live with human dignity would
mean the existence of such a right upto the end of natural life. This also
includes the right to a dignified life upto a point oj death. In other words
this may include the right to dying man to die with dignity ... "22

The court goes on to add:

".. A question may arise in the context oj dying man, who is, terminally ill
or in a persistent vegetative Slate thai he may be permitted to terminate it
by a premature extinction oj 1i1s. life, in these circumstances. This category
of cases may fall within the ambit oj the right to die with dignity as part
oj right to live with dignity... The debate even in such cases to permit
physician assisted termination oj life is inconclusive... "23
This is judicial legislation at its worst. A Pandora's box has been opened. A
limited right to die, under certain circumstances, has been recognised. The same
problems will reassert themselves, can a physician, who helps a terminally ill
patient assert his right to die, be prosecuted under S. 306? Can a terminally ill
patient be prosecuted under S. 309 for attempted suicide, given the limited right to
die? When is a person to be thought of as "dying"? What is a persistent vegetative
state? When is it "apparent that the process of natural death bas commenced?" ...
Perhaps another constitution bench may have to be constituted La answer these
questions ...
D. IS S. 309 VIOlATIVE OF ARTICLE 14?
It is very surprising that the Court has cbosen to even consider the question,
given the principles of judicial restraint. The question does not arise in this case a'S
the validity of S. 306 is being questioned only on the basis of the "right to die". Once

20

1959(1) SCR 528.

21 Lawrence Liang & Bhavana Thakur,

0p. cit. pp. 128-129.

22

Smt. Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab, 1996(2) SCALE 881 at p. 888 (para 23).

23

Ibid., p. 888 (para 24).

177
the court came to the conclusion that there is no right to die. The contention that
S. 309 is violative of Art. 14 had already been rejected in Rathinam. Invalidity on
the anvil of Art. 14 will not render S. 306 unconstitutional as no positive right will
be created.
However, it may be mat the court felt constrained to answer the question given
the contentions that were raised. It was contended mat both Ss. 309 & 306 are
monstrous and barbaric and violate the equality clause as being discriminatory and
arbitrary. It was also contended that the wide amplitude of Art. 14 read with the
dignity of life guaranteed under Art. 21 renders S. 309 unconstitutional."
The Constitutional-Bench repeated the decision in Rathinam with reference to
Art. 14. They held S. 309 is not violative of Art. 14 as:
1.

The definition of suicide is capable of broad definition and there is no real

ambiguity in determining what acts constitute suicide. Hence, S. 309 is not
arbitrary.

2.

There is sentencing discretion and hence all suicides are not treated alike,
therefore S. 309 is not violative of Art. 14.

The main plank of argument that S. 309 is "barbaric and monstrous" was not
even addressed. The main argument is that S. 309 is violative of the fundamental
rights, read together as common code, as it is unfair, unjust and unreasonable.
Further, Art. 14 after Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India,25 is the repository of
reasonableness which is an "essential element of quality or non-arbitrariness." Thus
S. 309 may be vinlative of Art. 14, as it may be unreasonable, unfair and unjust to
punish a person for attempting to commit suicide. Attempts to commit suicide are
indeed to be looked at with compassion, they are not to be even tried even if they
are not punished eventually.
It is submitted that the facts that there is sentencing discretion or even that
attempts to commit suicide are treated compassionately are not relevant in deciding
the constitutionality
of a provision. It is surprising that such a consideration
weighed with the court, given its affirmation at the very outset that the question
must be decided with reference to the Constitution alone."
In Mithu v. State." Chief Justice Chandrachud

held

".. If a law were to provide that the offence of theft will be punishable with
the penalty of the cutting of the hands, the law will be violative of Art. 21... "2&
24
25

The contentions are recorded by Verma J. at p. 889 (para 28).

1978(1)

Hoskot

1978(3)

see

see 544.

26 Supra n. 7.
27

1983(2)

248. See also, Gudikanta 1978 1

see 278.

28 lbid., at p. 284.

sec

240, Babu Singh 1978(1)

see

579 &

178

lt will be no defence of the provision (of cutting hands for theft) that there
is sentencing discretion or that no hands have been cut as yet. Such a provision is
on the face violative of Art. 21, it may be said that by the same token S. 309 is
violative of Art. 21 or Art. 14 as the case may be.
lt must be mentioned that, the power of the court to examine the reasonable
ness or otherwise of the substance of a provision may not exist 29 However, the right
to examine the reasonableness of procedure is established.'? It is not very clear
whether we have substantive due process or only procedural due process, inspite
of Justice Krishna Iyer's protestations."
Such legal substitutes have not weighed with the current Supreme Court in its
apogee of activism. In this context, it is worthwhile to note that judicial activism
has been defined as the pursuit of an ideology with scant respect for established
source of law. The Supreme Court in both Rathinam and Gian Kaur has not even
addressed the question.
E. ABETMENT OF SUICIDE OR ITS ATTEMPT
It has been seen that the tight to die has been recognised in a limited
circumstance as part of the right to live with dignity. The court has held that the
right to live with dignity allows a terminally ill person in a persistent vegetative
state to kill himself. When death is certain, the process can be accelerated without
attracting censure.32
However, even in such cases tile problem of physician assisted termination
was left unresolved. The court made a distinction between active interference in the
process of dying, and allowing a person to die. The Court cited various decisions
from other jurisprudence to show that even physician assisted termination may be
illegal.F'
Given that there are so many limitations on physician assisted suicide, suicides
assisted by lay-persons have no rational basis to claim exclusion from the principle
of sanctity of life, the Court opined."
Thus, in sum the position is that a terminally ill patient can attempt to
commit suicide without fear of penal consequences if she fails to succeed.
However, there can be no active assistance from the physician.
29

31

A.K. Roy v. Union of India, 1982(1) SCC 271 at p. 301. The Court held there is no power to
examine the justice of a law itself. See also Solil Paul, "Was Due Process Due?" - A critical study of the projection of 'reasonableness' in Art. 21 since Maneka Gandhi",. 1983(1) see (J).
Bachan Singh v. State, 1982(3) sec 24. See also, Justice A.M. Bhattacharjee, "Art. 21 and 'Due
Process' and 'Exclusionary Rule of Evidence" 1983(3) SCC(J).
See, Sunil Batra v. Union of India 1978(4) sec 494.

30

32

Smt. Gian Kaur v. Slate of Punjab, 1996(2) SCALE 881 At 888 (para 23-24).

33

Ibid, p. 888 (para 23) and pp. 89J-892.

34

Ibid., p. 893 (para 42).

179
The Court has held that an attempt to commit suicide and the abetment of
suicide are distinct offences. The abetment of an attempt to commit suicide is also
a distinct offence punishable under S. 309 read with S. lO7, I.P.C.35 Invalidity of
S. 309, without the creation of the "right to die" will not affect the validity of
S. 306. The abetment of an attempt to commit suicide is punishable under S. 108,

read with S. 309 J.P.C. only if the abetment is of an offence; an act which is not
punishable is not an offence." Therefore, if S. 309 is held invalid, abetment of an
attempt to commit suicide is not punishable.
The limited right to die that has been recognised as part of the right to live
with dignity is not reconcilable with the dicta that abetment of suicide is illegal. If
there is a limited right to die, it naturally means there is a limited right to abet the
procurement of such right. Hence, abetment of suicide by a terminally ill patient
cannot be an offence.
The question is whether S. 306 and Ss. 107, 108 and lO9 I.P.C. are capable
of being read down, so as to exclude those who abet the suicide or attempted suicide
by terminally ill people. It is my opinion that S. 306 is clear in terms, and it may
not be possible to exclude those people who abet the suicide by terminally ill
patients. People abetting the attempt to commit suicide by a terminally ill patient
are also liable to be punished; S. 108 which is the general provision making
abetment of an offence, will operate even if the main offender is not guilty.
It is submitted that in India, the main offender's guilt does not affect the
abettor's guilt. InIndia we have adopted the broad theory of accessorial liability
ramer than me narrow one. The narrow theory depends on the imputation of liability
from the perpetrator to the abettor, hence if the perpetrator is excused, so is the
abettor.F This is not me case in India, under S. 108 the abettor is punished even
if me perpetrator is excused." Culpability is personal under the Indian Penal Code.

It is clear men inat me abetment of suicide or attempted suicide by normal or

terminally ill-patients is an offence. The limited right to die that has been created,
allows the contention that there is a limited right to abet the commission or
abetment of me commission of suicide. This is in contradiction of me express
conclusions for Justice Verma, he rules that assistance of suicide or attempt, is
illegal. This is an inherent contradiction.

35

S. 307, I.P.e. defines abetment, while S. 108, I.P.C. makes the abetment of an offence and S.
109, LP.C. prescribes the punishment, where no express provision has been made for punishment.

36

S. 40, l.P.C. defines an offence as thing which is punishable.

37

George P. Fletcher, Rethinking Criminal Law, 640-643 (1978). See also, J.e. Smith & Brian
Hogan, Criminal Law, 142,380 (1992).

38

TIle illustration (a) to S. 108, I.P.C. makes it clear that abetment of a lunatic or a child is still
punishable.

180
F. CONCLUSION
This decision was made necessary only because of the creation of a "right to
die" in Rathinam. The creation of a "right to die" meant that abetment of suicide,
which is undoubtedly criminal, would become unconstitutional: it was only abet
ment of the enforcement of a fundamental right. This only emphasises the care that
must be taken in constitutional adjudication. The perils of indiscriminate right
creation, stand highlighted. The same impasse would result in the event that S. 309
was held invalid on the basis of a right to choose. However, this decision has
resulted in the baby being thrown out with the bath-water.
It is respectfully submitted that the Constitution Bencb should have, assuming
that there is substantial due process, restricted itself to answering the question
whether S. 309, I.P.C. was monstrous and barbaric or whether it is just, fair and
reasonable to punish an attempted suicide.
Further, this decision bas opened a veritable Pandora's Box by its remarks on
euthanasia. The rigbt, albeit limited, of a terminally ill person to commit suicide
has been recognised. The court has created this right, without properly defining
the terms it bas used. This suffers from the usual infirmities of judicial legislation
that bas been seen in recent times. Perhaps the question will be clarified by
oral observations at a future date - this seems to be the current practice on
contention questions ...