As killings in the name of honour and tradition continue unabated, a lawmaker has proposed a new law to give young couples the liberty to marry out of caste and religion and also to provide them a legal framework within which to exercise their choices.
YSR Congress party MP V Vijaysai Reddy has introduced a private member bill in the Rajya Sabha that aims to stop honour killings and other crimes in the garb of honour.
Endangering the liberty of a couple through social sanctions or ostracism and causing harm or harassment to them can evoke imprisonment of up to 10 years along with a fine, according to the new law proposed by Reddy.
'The Prevention of Crimes in the name of Honour and Tradition and Prohibition of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances Bill, 2017' seeks to protect individual liberty, right of association, movement and bodily integrity and the right of adults to choose their own partners in marriage. According to Reddy, honour crimes violate the fundamental rights of citizens.
"They unduly emphasise on the framework of 'honour' to control and regulate women's sexuality and their marital choices," he said. At present, there is no specific law to check honour killings. There is also no specific law to protect couples facing harassment from various groups, including social and panchayat, marrying out of religion or caste. Such couples often seek the protection of high courts, say legal experts.