DHAKA: India plans to decriminalise attempted suicide, raising hopes Thursday for the release of rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike for 14 years.

India’s junior home minister has said it would act on recommendations from the law commission to amend legislation that until now has considered attempted suicide a crime punishable by up to one year in jail.

The government was taking the decision after seeking responses from India’s states and territories on the move, Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary said, reports The Straits Times.

‘Keeping in view the responses from the states and UTs (union territories), it has been decided to delete section 309 of (the) Indian Penal Code from (the) statute book,’ Chaudhary said told parliament on Wednesday in a written reply to a question.

BDST: 1915 HRS, DEC 11, 2014