Uttarakhand HC Citing 'National Interest' Stays Conviction Of Vaccine Scientist In Abetment To Suicide Case

The Uttarakhand High Court has recently put a hold on the conviction of a vaccine scientist accused of contributing to his wife's suicide, emphasising that national interests could be compromised if he is not permitted to continue his research work 

The trial court had acquitted him of dowry death charges but held him guilty of abetment under Section 306 of the IPC.

The Court, relying on Supreme Court judgments including Rama Narang v Ramesh Narang and Navjot Singh Sidhu v State of Punjab, noted that in exceptional cases, an appellate court may suspend a conviction if its consequences cause irreparable harm.

The Court suspended both the conviction and sentence while his appeal remains pending. 

[Akash Yadav v. State of Uttarakhand]