Khap threats illegal: SC
15 Jan 2013 7:50 AM IST
Supreme Court on Monday said the diktats issued by Khap Panchayats on women’s dress code and over their rights to carry cellphones were illegal. A bench of justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai said such diktats are against the fundamental right to life and directed the Khap Panchayats to file their replies on the issue.
‘It (such diktat) also violates the law. How can someone ask others not to carry mobile?,’ the bench asked after the Government told the court that such orders are being passed by them against women. The court has given Khap Panchayats time till 25 February to submit their views. It would pass an order on 5 March.
As per the invitation of the court during the last hearing to Khap Panchayats to express their views on the issue, leaders of various Khap Panchayats of UP and Haryana appeared before the court and told that distorted facts have been projected about them in the court.
Top police officers from UP and Haryana also appeared before the court and submitted that although Khaps issued some socially retrograde resolutions, they were never directly involved in honour killings. ADGPs (law and order) of the two states said Khaps also play positive roles at times like passing resolution against foeticide.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Sahakti Vahinim, an NGO. The court, during the hearing in the case on the last date, had asked the petioner to inform various Khaps’ elders to come before it to express their views. It has said that in spite of spurt in such killings in Punjab, UP and Haryana, the central and state governments aren’t taking steps because of vote-bank politics.
The NGO is seeking direction from the court for the government to take action against Khap Panchayats for allegedly harassing and killing couples, particularly women, in the name of family’s honour.
‘It (such diktat) also violates the law. How can someone ask others not to carry mobile?,’ the bench asked after the Government told the court that such orders are being passed by them against women. The court has given Khap Panchayats time till 25 February to submit their views. It would pass an order on 5 March.
As per the invitation of the court during the last hearing to Khap Panchayats to express their views on the issue, leaders of various Khap Panchayats of UP and Haryana appeared before the court and told that distorted facts have been projected about them in the court.
Top police officers from UP and Haryana also appeared before the court and submitted that although Khaps issued some socially retrograde resolutions, they were never directly involved in honour killings. ADGPs (law and order) of the two states said Khaps also play positive roles at times like passing resolution against foeticide.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Sahakti Vahinim, an NGO. The court, during the hearing in the case on the last date, had asked the petioner to inform various Khaps’ elders to come before it to express their views. It has said that in spite of spurt in such killings in Punjab, UP and Haryana, the central and state governments aren’t taking steps because of vote-bank politics.
The NGO is seeking direction from the court for the government to take action against Khap Panchayats for allegedly harassing and killing couples, particularly women, in the name of family’s honour.
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