Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code

Such a law, like many others that penalise actions which hurt no one else, only serves as a harassment or extortion tool for the police. As far back as 1996, the Supreme Court had said in a ruling that this was not a law that deserved to be in the lawbooks. Nonetheless, the Bihar government has reportedly expressed doubts on the Home Ministry’s move, saying that the section may be needed to take action against suicide bombers.

It goes to show just how fertile and wayward the imagination of bureaucrats can be—an anti-suicide law against suicide bombers!