Refusal to marry does not by itself amount to abetment of suicide, holds the Supreme Court
9 October 2026
In Chittibarika Chandra Shekar & Ors. v. State of Telangana, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran held that a refusal to marry, even if followed by suicide, does not by itself amount to abetment under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code.
The Court found no material to show that the appellants had instigated the deceased.
It held that the refusal was not intended to drive her to suicide and that knowledge of such a consequence could not be attributed to the appellants.
The bench observed that people react differently to situations, and that a breakup ending in suicide cannot always be termed an abetment to suicide.
The appeal arose from a criminal revision before the Telangana High Court; the woman was in a consensual relationship with the first appellant.
The Court quashed the criminal proceedings against all six appellants.
The judgment is reported as 2026 LiveLaw (SC) 1029.
In plain words
Abetment Abetment of suicide — Instigating, conspiring in or intentionally aiding an act of suicide.
Section 306 IPC Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code — The offence of abetment of suicide, punishable with imprisonment up to ten years.
Criminal revision Criminal revision — A High Court's power to re-examine an order of a subordinate criminal court.
Quash Quashing of proceedings — A court order ending a criminal case before trial concludes.