**Marital Quarrels Can’t Be Termed as Abetment to Suicide: Allahabad High Court**
*By Snehil Singh | October 4, 2025, 4:28 PM*
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The Allahabad High Court has delivered a significant ruling stating that marital discord and domestic disputes cannot be classified as abetment to suicide under Indian law. This decision emerged from a case involving Rachna Devi and her parents from Auraiya district, Uttar Pradesh.
### Background of the Case
The case traces back to November 14, 2022, when a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with abetment to suicide. The victim, married to Rachna Devi for around seven years, died by suicide on November 13, 2022. The FIR alleged continuous harassment and humiliation inflicted by his wife and in-laws.
### The Pre-Suicide Dispute
The complaint highlighted an incident on November 8, 2022, when Rachna Devi’s parents visited her matrimonial home. During a quarrel, they reportedly told their son-in-law that “he should die.” The victim’s father lodged the FIR after his son’s death. It is notable that Rachna Devi had earlier filed a case against her husband under sections of the IPC related to dowry harassment.
### Allahabad High Court’s Ruling
The single-judge bench headed by Justice Sameer Jain allowed the criminal revision petition filed by Rachna Devi and her parents against an order of the Sessions Judge of Auraiya.
The Court emphasized that marital quarrels are common and should not be automatically equated with abetment of suicide. It was pointed out that even statements like “he/she should die” made during domestic quarrels do not constitute an offence under Section 306 IPC.
Justice Jain underlined that the intention to abet suicide is a critical element for conviction under this section. Mere words spoken in the heat of an argument cannot be assumed to amount to instigating or aiding suicide.
### Review of Evidence and Legal Precedents
The High Court noted that the trial court had dismissed the discharge application without adequately analyzing the evidence. Upon review, witness statements did not indicate any clear instigation or deliberate assistance leading to the victim’s suicide.
Citing Supreme Court judgments, Justice Jain reaffirmed that ordinary domestic harassment or casual remarks during a quarrel cannot be expanded into criminal abetment unless it is proved that such actions left the victim with absolutely no option but to commit suicide.
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This ruling thus establishes important legal clarity around the distinction between general marital discord and criminal liability for abetment to suicide, reinforcing the necessity of clear intention and evidence for such charges.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/marital-quarrels-don-t-amount-to-suicide-abetment-allahabad-high-court/story
