Tamil Nadu yet to frame legal measures

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government seems to be “uninterested” in responding to the 242nd report of the Law Commission of India on a legal framework to prevent incidents like honour killing.  

Tamil Nadu is among eight states that had not responded to the commission’s report, which was submitted in August 2012 and 27 states and all Union Territories have submitted their comments. Opposition parties and social activists had urged the government to give consent to passing a special law to curb honour killings.

Activists claim that the gruesome murder of 22-year-old Shankar, a Dalit,  at Udumalpet, on Sunday for marrying Kousalya, a caste Hindu, was the 81st incident of honour killing in the state in the last three years. According to the draft Prohibition of Unlawful Assembly (Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances) Bill prepared by the Law Commission, acts of endangerment of liberty including social boycott and harassment of inter-caste or inter-religion couple or their family members are treated as offences punishable with mandatory minimum sentence.

Acts of criminal intimidation by members of unlawful assembly or others acting at their instance or otherwise are also made punishable with mandatory minimum sentence. Marriage, according to the draft law, includes a proposed or intended marriage. The collector has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of persons targeted in case any illegal decision is taken by ‘khap’ or 'katta panchayat’ and he/she should  take necessary steps to prohibit convening of such illegal gatherings.

Any violation of the Bill will attract imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to Rs 30,000. All offences under the proposed law will be cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable. The cases will be tried in special courts presided over by a sessions judge or additional sessions judge. The special court can take suo motu cognisance of the cases. A Kathir, executive director of Madurai-based NGO Evidence, said bringing in a separate law would act as a deterrent to honour killings. Efforts to contact state government officials proved futile.