Though the intensely controversial issue of attempt to commit suicide has come up before different High Courts like. Delhi,1 Bombay2 and Andhra Pradesh3, for pronouncing on the legality of provisions of Section 309 Final Code, recently the Apex Court had an occasion- to rule on the constitutionality of the offence of attempt to commit suicide u/ S. 309 of the Penal Code. In Rathinam /Nagabhushan Patnaik v. Union of India4 case, the Supreme Court in its landmark judgment of far reaching importance has categorically declared that the provisions of Section 309, IPC are ultra vires the Constitution. This constitutes a step in the right direction inasmuch as suicide is more a phenomenon linked to the moral, religious or psychological traits of the individual or the prevailing socio-cultural, economic conditions of the society. The causes and remedies of suic ....