Presumption as to abetment of suicide by a married woman.

What this section does

When it is shown that a married woman committed suicide within seven years of marriage and that her husband or his relative subjected her to cruelty, the court may presume that the suicide was abetted by the husband or such relative. This is a discretionary presumption ('may presume'), not a mandatory one. 'Cruelty' carries the same meaning as under section 86 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

The rule in one line

Suicide by a married woman within seven years of marriage, coupled with proof of cruelty by husband or his relative, raises a discretionary presumption of abetment.

When it applies

• A woman married for four years commits suicide after being subjected to persistent harassment by her husband; the court may presume the husband abetted the suicide.
• Where a mother-in-law is shown to have subjected a bride to cruelty and the bride commits suicide within five years of marriage, the court may presume abetment by the mother-in-law.

Derived from IEA s.113A.