Page:Acts of the Parliament of India 1988.pdf/38

This page needs to be proofread.
10
Commission of Sati (Prevention)
[act 3
(iii) the arranging of any function to eulogise the person who has committed sati; or
(iv) the creation of a trust, or the collection of funds, or the construction of a temple or other structure or the carrying on of any form of worship or the performance of any ceremony thereat, with a view to perpetuate the honour of, or to preserve the memory of, a person who has committed sati;
(c) "sati" means the act of burning or burying alive of-
(i) any widow along with the body of her deceased husband or any other relative or with any article, object or thing associated with the husband or such relative; or
(ii) any woman along with the body of any of her relatives, irrespective of whether such burning or burying is claimed to be voluntary on the part of the widow, or the woman or otherwise;
(d)"Special Court" means a Special Court constituted under Section 9;
(e) "temple" includes any building or other structure, whether roofed or not, constructed or made to preserve the memory of a person in respect of whom sati has been committed or used or intended, to be used for the carrying on of any form of worship or for the observance of any ceremony in connection with such commission.

(2) Words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Indian Penal Code45 of 1860. or in the Code shall have the same meanings as are respectively assigned to them in the Indian Penal Code or the Code.

PART II
PUNISHMENTS FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO SATI

Attempt to commit sati. 3. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code45 of 1860., whoever attempts to commit sati and does any act towards such commission shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both:

Provided that the Special Court trying an offence under this section shall, before convicting any person, take into consideration the circumstances leading to the commission of the offence, the act committed, the state of mind of the person charged of the offence at the time of the commission of the act and all other relevant factors.

Abetment of sati. 4. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code45 of 1860., if any person commits sati, whoever abets the commission of such sati, either directly or indirectly, shall be punishable with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.

(2) If any person attempts to commit sati, whoever abets such attempt, either directly or indirectly, shall be punishable with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.