The Centre wants couples facing honour killing threats to be housed in protection homes and police to be held responsible for any physical assault or offence committed against such couples.
Submitting its suggestions on how to rein in honour killings before the Supreme Court during hearing of a PIl, the Centre said it is in the process of finalising a law titled 'The Prohibition of Interference with Freedom of Matrimonial Alliance Bill'. Till the States are taken on board on the issue, it pressed for directions from the court to rein in the illegal practice of honour killings involving unlawful assembly of persons decide to harm or kill couples who marry outside gotra, caste or community.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, submitted that till such time the law is in place, the states may set up a special cell in each district to receive complaints from couples facing threat from their families or communities on account of their matrimonial alliance. This threat can even be expressed at the time of court marriage. On receiving a complaint, the policy will be duty bound to prevent any crime against the couple. To protect them from possible physical harm, they may be housed in protection homes, the Centre submitted.
In the event any offence is committed against the couple, a case has to be automatically registered and investigation taken up by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. At the same time, disciplinary action will follow against the policemen who failed to protect the couple or register a case.
The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud took the suggestions of the Centre on record and assured of passing appropriate directions in this regard. Although honour killings had brought khap panchayats to limelight, several khap panchayats joined proceedings in Court to clarify that khap do not authorize such killings. The bench said that its orders will not be against khap as such but against any assembly of persons which comes in the way of matrimonial alliance between couple wishing to get married or already married by their own choice.
The PIl by NGO Shakti Vahini highlighted cases of honour killing at the instance of khap panchayats and demanded an action plan from the Centre to protect couples who face threats to their life and liberty.