New Delhi: Suicide attempts by mentally ill persons will no longer be punishable under the IPC. Parliament on Monday passed a Bill that seeks to decriminalise suicide attempt by mentally ill people and provides for the right to better healthcare for people suffering from mental illness.
‘The Mental Healthcare Bill’ also has a provision to protect and restore the property right of the mentally ill people, health minister J.P. Nadda said in the Lok Sabha, just before it was passed by the House by a voice vote.
The Rajya Sabha had passed it in August last with 134 official amendments. The Bill provides for decriminalising suicide attempt by mentally ill persons by making it non-punishable under the Indian Penal Code.
It also focuses on community-based treatment and provides for special treatment for women. The Bill seeks to ensure health-care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons with mental illness “in a manner that does not intrude on their rights and dignity.”
While replying to a debate on the Bill, Mr Nadda described it as a “patient-centric” measure and said there was a need to empower the patients so that they could secure proper treatment.
