In a harsh comment against khap panchayats and such other customary courts that, of late, became controversial for handing down brutal punishments, the Centre on Thursday held them to be “unconstitutional”.
Replying to a question raised in the Parliament during Question Hour, law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Thursday said that khap panchayats and such kangaroo courts are “against the law and Constitution” and urged State Govern-ments to keep a check on such unlawful assemblies as it was a serious issue.
“It is a very serious issue. The State Governments have to take action and check such customary courts,” Gowda said in reply to a supplementary question by BJD MP Rabindra Kumar Jena. The question was raised in the context of a recent incident involving a tribal court in West Bengal where 13 people of a tribal panchayat in Birbhum ordered a minor girl to be raped by 13 men of the community for having an affair with a person outside their community.
A law Commission report submitted in August 2012 on the same subject is under consideration of Centre. The opinion of States was sought on the Commission’s findings that honour killings can be prevented by prohibiting khap panchayats and such other unlawful assemblies.