Bill mandating death penalty for 'honour killing' passed in Rajasthan Assembly

Jaipur: A bill was passed in the Rajasthan Assembly on Monday to curb incidents of 'honour killing' in the state with the provision of punishment of death penalty or life imprisonment for murdering couples in the name of family honour.

The Rajasthan Prohibition of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2019 was passed by a voice vote.

The bill was introduced in the House last week by parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Dhariwal said that sections of IPC and CrPc were not adequate in dealing with such cases so the bill was moved. "It has been introduced so that people overcome the narrow mindset."

He said that in the last five years in the state, 71 cases of illegal diktat given by 'Khap Panchayats' (caste councils which function like kangaroo courts) were registered and 10 cases of honour killing occurred in which four men and eight women were killed.

"Such cases have increased in the past few years and have become hurdle in societal development," Dhariwal said.

Opposition members termed the bill a blow to the culture and societal norms and demanded it be sent to select committee and for public opinion, which was rejected by the speaker.

"The bill is directionless," said deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore.

Rathore and BJP legislator Madan Dilawar raised objection to the term 'sangotra' (same blood) used in the Bill and said that

the government was pushing the society into darkness.