NEW DELI: The Supreme Court has givens now dimension to the term *secularism by which it no more connotes mere respect for all religions.

Keeping debate on secularism alive the Court has ruled that suicide was neither against secularism nor against any religion.

“Suicide knows no barrier of rave religion caste age of sox” declared Justice B.L.Hansaria and Justice R.M Sahai while upholding ones right to commit suicide.

The judges recalled a study undertaken in the US on” Suicidology contemporary developments.” The study conducted in 1976 found that both Roman Catholics and Protestants were equally susceptible to commission of suicide Because of this it had been felt that there was “secularization of suicide” in the US.

In India also the judges said Hindus Muslims Sikhs Christians Buddhists Jains and Parsis were known to have been committing or attempting suicides.

“Though there has been no particular Study as to the religious faith of the persons committing suicide or attempting it can safely be stated that there is “Secularization of suicide in our country also” noted the court while what it said humanizing the criminal law in tune with global wave length.

Whether suicide is against region No declared the Count while relying on Article 25 of the Connotation which guarantees right to practice religion of ones choice for all

Referring to a study paper submitted by Prof G.P.Tripathi before the World congress and Medicine the judge noted every man lives to accomplish our Objectives of life. Dharma (religion and moral values). Artha wealth) kama (love or desire) and vioksha (spiritual enjoyment) These actors were considered to be earthly.”

“When earthly objectives are convoy religion would require a person jot to clinch to the body” felt the Court adding “therefore man has moral right to terminate his life because death is simply changing the old body into a new one by the process known as “kayakalp” a therapy of rejuvenation.”

How life has been understood by other religions? It was “inexhaustible storehouse of mysteries a realm of endlessly self-perpetuating novelties in which the solution to any given problem gives rise to a plethora of other questions that beckon the restless.”

Believing it to be like that the Court said “therefore one who takes his life may not really be taken to have put an end to his whole life There is thus nothing against religion in what he does.”

Speaking on Indian mythology the judges recalled that Lord Rama and his brothers took jalasamadhi in river Saryu near Ayodhya. According to ancient history Buddhaand Mahavira achieved death by seeking it.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 6, 1994