The Union Home Ministry is reportedly in favour of capital punishment for the convicted persons involved in cases of honour killing. The ministry, in a letter, has sought comments from all states and Union Territories on the provisions of the proposed Bill.
The move comes in the backdrop of such crimes going on unabated across the country. The most recent case to shake the nation was the brutal murder of newly-wed Bhavna Yadav, a 21-year-old Delhi University student, allegedly by her parents for marrying outside caste. The incident took place in the heart of the capital.
‘The government is trying that the Bill be presented before Parliament during the Winter Session, which commences on 24 November. The proposed Bill has been titled Prohibition of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances Bill 2012,’ said a senior officer in Delhi Government’s Home Department.
There has been a spurt in intimidation of couples tying the knot under ‘sagotra’ marriages and inter caste, inter community and inter-faith marriages by self appointed bodies (read Khaps or caste panchayats) in the name of protecting the honour of families, castes or communities, says the letter sent to the state governments in the justification for the need to have such an act.
In view of the rising number of incidents where young couples have been tortured and killed for marrying within the ‘gotra’ under orders from Khap panchayats, the Law Commission has already recommended a threshold bar on congregation of people for condemning a marriage on the basis that the marriage has dishonoured caste, community or brought disrepute to the family or community concerned.
In its reply to the Union Home Ministry, the Delhi government and the Delhi police have stated that a deputy commissioner of police ( DCP) level officer would be in-charge of investigations and chargesheet would be submitted within 15 days. It is reliably learnt that the Delhi government has seconded MHA on awarding capital punishment to those involved in honour killings.
The move comes in the backdrop of such crimes going on unabated across the country. The most recent case to shake the nation was the brutal murder of newly-wed Bhavna Yadav, a 21-year-old Delhi University student, allegedly by her parents for marrying outside caste. The incident took place in the heart of the capital.
‘The government is trying that the Bill be presented before Parliament during the Winter Session, which commences on 24 November. The proposed Bill has been titled Prohibition of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances Bill 2012,’ said a senior officer in Delhi Government’s Home Department.
There has been a spurt in intimidation of couples tying the knot under ‘sagotra’ marriages and inter caste, inter community and inter-faith marriages by self appointed bodies (read Khaps or caste panchayats) in the name of protecting the honour of families, castes or communities, says the letter sent to the state governments in the justification for the need to have such an act.
In view of the rising number of incidents where young couples have been tortured and killed for marrying within the ‘gotra’ under orders from Khap panchayats, the Law Commission has already recommended a threshold bar on congregation of people for condemning a marriage on the basis that the marriage has dishonoured caste, community or brought disrepute to the family or community concerned.
In its reply to the Union Home Ministry, the Delhi government and the Delhi police have stated that a deputy commissioner of police ( DCP) level officer would be in-charge of investigations and chargesheet would be submitted within 15 days. It is reliably learnt that the Delhi government has seconded MHA on awarding capital punishment to those involved in honour killings.