Suicide Law in Nepal

Suicide Law in Nepal (Section 185) National Penal Code

Suicide is the act of consciously taking one’s own life, usually for Mental, Social, Economic, or other tragic reasons.

Suicide is criminalized in some countries whereas it hasn’t been directly criminalized by other Countries.

However, the encouragement or abetment to commit or causing to commit suicide has been declared as an Offense.

In the context of Nepal, Muluki Ain 2020 criminalized Suicide, and individuals who committed suicide but lived could be imprisoned or fined according to the circumstance.

National Penal Code 2074 hasn’t considered suicide to be an offense. It has prohibited the Abetment of Suicide in Nepal.

Abetment of Suicide

Section 185 of the Chapter relating to the Human Body has prohibited the abetment or instigation or instigation of Suicide in Nepal.

Section 185(1) has stated that no individual should abet or instigate the commission of Suicide.

Such Instigation or Abetment involves the creation or causing of Creation or creation of circumstances/conditions that are likely to lead towards the commission of Suicide.

If any individual is found guilty and convicted of committing the abetment of Suicide in Nepal, they are liable to both fine and imprisonment.

They are required to complete a sentence of imprisonment of not more than five years and a fine of not more than NPR 50,000.

Compensation

Section 186 has provisioned Compensation to the Victim for any damage sustained to the life, body, or property of the victim of the offense.

The Court must order reasonable compensation to be paid to the victim to recover from such harm and damages, either to the victim or to his/her successor.

Section 187 of the National Penal Code has specified the Statute of Limitation for Abetment of Suicide Complaints in Nepal.

It has stated that to accept a complaint concerning the Abetment of Suicide, it must be filed six months from the date of knowledge of the commission of the offense.