'Mere Refusal To Marry Won't Amount To Instigation Under S.107 IPC': Supreme Court Quashes Abetment Of Suicide Case

The Supreme Court quashed an FIR under Section 306 IPC, ruling that mere refusal to marry does not amount to “instigation” under Section 107 IPC required to establish abetment of suicide. The Bench emphasised that abetment necessitates a direct or active act leading the victim to end their life, and that disappointment or emotional hurt cannot by itself create criminal liability. The Court underlined that intent and evidence of active provocation are key elements in such cases, reiterating judicial restraint in extending penal provisions to moral or personal issues. This judgment sets a significant precedent limiting criminal prosecution in cases involving failed relationships or personal rejection.