In Brief
A man and wife both consumed pesticide following a quarrel. The wife died; the husband survived. He was convicted of abetting her suicide under Section 306 IPC based on allegations of an affair causing frequent quarrels. The Supreme Court allowed his appeal, holding that abetment of suicide requires active instigation or positive acts to facilitate the suicide. Mere quarrels, even if frequent, without such active steps do not suffice. Since the appellant also consumed pesticide and there was no evidence of deliberate instigation by him, the conviction was set aside.
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