Attempt to suicide will soon be not a punishable offence with the government deciding to delete Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code from the statute book to decriminalise it after getting the backing of 22 states and union territories, the Rajya Sabha was told on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said the Law Commission of India, in its 210th Report, had recommended that Sec 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of IPC needs to be effaced from the statute book.

Chaudhary said since law and order is a state subject, views of all states and union territories were sought on the recommendations of the Law Commission.

"18 states and 4 union territory administrations have supported that Sec 309 of the IPC may be deleted. Keeping in view the responses from the States/UTs, it has been decided to delete Sec 309 of IPC from the Statute book," he said in reply to a written question.

In August, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had informed Lok Sabha that the Home Ministry was in the process of effacing Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code as recommended by the Law Commission along with amendment of certain other sections of the CrPC and IPC in consultation with all stake holders.

The Law Commission in its recommendation had said Section 309 needs to be effaced from the statute book because the provision is inhuman, irrespective of whether it is constitutional or unconstitutional. The repeal of the anachronistic law contained in section 309 of the Indian Penal Code would save many lives and relieve the distressed of his suffering, it said.

(With agency inputs)