In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court has acquitted a man charged with abetting the suicide of his wife three decades ago, emphasizing the necessity of cogent evidence of harassment or cruelty for conviction.

The case, dating back to 1993, saw the prosecution alleging that the man and his parents began demanding money soon after his marriage in 1992 to facilitate the opening of a ration shop. Tragically, on November 19, 1993, the woman took her own life by consuming poison, purportedly due to incessant harassment by her husband.

Initially found guilty by an additional sessions judge in Karnal in 1998 and upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the man’s conviction under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was overturned by the Supreme Court.

The apex court, in its ruling, stressed the need for clear “mens rea” (criminal intent) to convict a person under Section 306 and highlighted that mere harassment alone is insufficient to establish abetment of suicide. The bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra emphasized that an active or direct act leading to suicide must be proven for conviction.

Underlining the importance of cautious evaluation of evidence, the court warned against hasty conclusions, especially in cases where suicide occurs within seven years of marriage. It emphasized that without concrete proof of cruelty or harassment, a presumption of abetment cannot be raised under Section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act.

The verdict also acknowledged the ordeal endured by the accused, stating that the criminal justice system itself can be a form of punishment. While recognizing the tragedy of the woman’s death, leaving behind a six-month-old infant, the court reiterated the importance of determining guilt in accordance with the law.