Govt gets cold feet on honour killings Bill
New Delhi: With consensus eluding over stricter punishment to honour killers, the Union Cabinet decided to defer a decision to amend the IPC and the CrPC for stricter punishment for honour killings here on Thursday.
The Cabinet decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to consider amendments to the law, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni after the Cabinet meeting, adding "views will also be sought from states."
Against the backdrop of the recent spurt in 'honour' killings, the Cabinet is considering stringentpunishment for those involved in the crime. Sources in Women and Child Development Ministry said the bill brings honour killings under the definition of murder. They said any khap panchayat (caste council) or any group ordering honour killings or any person who carries out the diktat will be jointly liable for punishment under the proposed legislation.
The Indian Evidence Act will also be amended so as to put the onus on the accused or the Khap panchayats to prove their innocence.
The sources said the government also plans to do away with the 30-day notice period under the Special Marriage Act for inter-caste and inter-religion marriages.
Taking note of the recent spurt in 'honour' killings, the Supreme Court had last month sought response from the Union Government and eight states on steps taken to prevent such incidents.
Under the new law everybody who is party to the decision of killing, including Khap panchayats and families who enforce the decisions, will be liable for punishment.
Presently the honour killers face the only charge "conspiracy to kill" which leads to a punishment ranging from five years to a life term.
The Haryana MPs oppose the proposed legislation even as Law Minister Verappa Moily and Home Minister P Chidambaram are involved in framing the bill.
Past honour killings
29 June: Teen hacked to death in UP by her mother over alleged affair with neighbour
21 June: Bodies of two lovers found hanging from a tree in Bhiwani, six family members booked for murder
15 June: Couple electrocuted to death in Delhi as boy belonged to different caste
27 May: Couple stoned to death by girl's upper caste relatives in Nizamabad
8 April: Man strangles 16-year-old sister to death in Sonepat for affair with neighbour
May, 2008: Pregnant girl, boyfriend killed by her father in Haryana.
June, 2007: Manoj & Babli killed in Karnal for marrying against community wishes.
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