Honour Killing Law in India

TAGS: Caste discrimination, Gender-based violence, Honour killings Despite the persistence of honour killings, there is no national legislation dealing specifically with this issue. In 2012, the Law Commission of India recommended a bill to address the issue of honour killings, which was never addressed. Rajasthan`s 2019 bill prohibiting interference with the freedom of marriage covenants in the name of honor and tradition is currently the only special law that explicitly addresses honor killings in the country. The law stipulates that honour killings are punishable by death or life imprisonment, and contains other provisions criminalizing intimidation, endangering a couple`s liberty, and other forms of harassment. Khap Panchayat`s presence is also responsible for honour killings. Khap Panchayat decisions are directed against women who influence their personal decisions on how to dress, dress and marry, young girls are threatened, killed and even forced to commit suicide, as under Khap judgments. There is no question of rights and women in these Khap-ruled areas. Manoj Bbli`s honour killing was the honour killing of Indian newlyweds Manoj Banwala and Babli in June 2007 and the ensuing trial in which the accused were convicted of honour killings. Among those accused of the murder were Bbli`s relatives (grandfather Gangaraj, who is believed to have been a Khap chief,[1] brother, maternal and paternal uncles, and two cousins). Manoj`s relatives, especially his mother, defended the relationship.

[2] Article 21 Security of life and liberty and respect for fundamental human rights and equality have been abruptly demonstrated by the actions of those panchayats or groups that support honour killing without the slightest pain of conscience. Instead, we must review the Supreme Court`s decision in Shakti Vahini v. Union of India, which focuses on the safety of young couples and presents it as a responsible duty of the state at the local and national levels. It leads the identification of districts with histories of honour killings and the establishment of expedited courts and special cells to provide counselling. However, reporting honour killings under separate laws makes it difficult to prosecute them. In most cases, crimes are covered by the family. In addition, the police do not take note of offences because they are considered to be «internal affairs» of the Community. In some cases, it treats crimes as homicides or atrocity crimes under the Act Act. Therefore, when such offences are reported, they should not be divided between different criminal provisions.

Nevertheless, cases of honour killings are reported and the states with the highest cases of honour killings are reported in Uttar Pradesh. Honour killings: Killing to protect so-called «izzats» Honour killing is murder committed by family members. This would be the immoral behavior of family members who believe in caste and gotras above their own lives. It is done to eliminate the shame and shame of a family member. The man or a family member kills the person who does not correspond to his social position. It could even be a planned murder in advance, the main reasons are caste and religion. Even after 70 years of independence, people still believe in the superiority of caste over life. India is a democratic country where all people have the right to equal treatment and life. The latest 2020 report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) claims that only 23 murders across the country were motivated by honor killings (p. 165). However, unofficial sources such as Evidence, an organization that campaigns against honour killings, claim that 180 honour killings have been committed in Tamil Nadu alone in the last 5 years.

In the past, the NCRB has found crimes such as honour killings to be «vague» and «unreliable,» in part because of the lack of appropriate definitions, leading to their exclusion from final reports. Honour killings and their context must therefore be formalized in order to be recognized. The honor killing inspired Ajay Sinha to write a film called Khap – A Story of Honour Killing starring Om Puri, Yuvika Chaudhary, Govind Namdeo, Anuradha Patel and Mohnish Behl to draw attention to the Khap`s dictates. [55] [56] It will cost between 25 and 30 million rupees and is expected to be released by the end of July 2010. [57] Sinha claimed that the film is not based on one specific murder, but on several. He called the film a «protest against such traditions and practices.» [58] For the research, Sinha had visited Haryana and spoken to Khap members. [58] Last month, a special court in Madurai convicted 10 people of an honor killing in Tamil Nadu. The verdict led to renewed calls for separate legislation against heinous acts known as «honour killings». This article describes the current legal framework for dealing with such acts and how a targeted law will be better equipped to ensure their deterrence. However, the aim of these projects is to prevent khap panchayats and other caste groups from coming together to interfere in marital pacts. They do not centralize the prohibition of honour killings by family members and caste groups.

In addition, they continue to receive insufficient compensation, fail to provide legal support to victims and neglect the active role of the family in such crimes. Bahadur[26] was satisfied with the decision: «Out of seven defendants, five were sentenced to death. This will send a strong message to the public that the law is bigger than the Khap. [45] However, he was disappointed that «the leader [Ganga Raj] escaped the death penalty because he deliberately disappeared during the murder.» [39] Narendra said, «We will appeal the death penalty against the main accused, Ganga Raj, to the Supreme Court. We respect the court`s decision, but it must be punished so that the instigators of the crime receive the punishment. It is also important that this is a very clear message so that no Khap ever gives such instructions. [45] Seema echoed Narendra concerns: «We would have been happier if the main defendant had also been sentenced to death. The Panchayat`s decision was not justified and people should not be allowed to abuse their power. We fought this fight alone when no one supported us. She asked for more security for her family: «They tried to bribe us to withdraw the case, then they threatened to kill us if we did not withdraw the FIR. Even after the decision, we fear a backlash from Khap Panchayat. [45] In India, even in the midst of a national lockdown, the practice of honour killings emerged last week in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

With the COVID-19 pandemic making jobs scarce, Mr. Sudhakar, 24, was forced to return to his village of Morappan Thangal where he was murdered by his wife`s father and another family member. The couple, who fled and married six months ago, had been forcibly separated by a local panchayat for marrying outside their caste. For caste couples in India, these tragic consequences are the norm, but it is doubtful whether Sudhakar`s murder is recorded for what it was – an honour killing – is doubtful. The killing was ordered by a Khap Panchayat (Khap), a caste religious adviser under Jats, in their village of Karora in Kaithal district, Haryana. [3] The Khap issued a decree banning marriage against social norms.