Raj govt to enact law against mob lynching and honour killing

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government tabled bills against honour killing and mob lynching in the state assembly on Tuesday. The bill against the practice of honour killing was tabled a day after its draft was given a green signal in a cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

The chief minister had promised to enact a law against honour killing during his budget speech. He mentioned an honour killing incident in Sirohi and stressed upon the need for bringing to justice family members and community leaders (khap panchayat members) who inflict violence on adult couple over their relationship and love marriage.

The honour killing bill makes provision of severe punishment for assaulting a couple. It also lays down punishment for khap panchayats who banish couples from their community and villages over love marriage and their relationship. FIRs will be registered against those attempting to stop couples from getting married irrespective of their caste.

Honour killing incidents are rampant in several parts of the state. Girls are harassed and even murdered by their family and community members for their relationship with the boys of their choice. In many instances, the couples have to seek police protection, fearing backlash from their communities and family members. In most honour killing cases, the boy and the girl are harassed because they are from different castes.