Dalit body wants bill to end honour killing

The Dalit Rights Committee (Dalit Hakkugala Samiti - DHS) recommends to bring a bill into force to end crime in the name of honour and tradition, which are against the freedom of choice in relationships and matrimonial alliances.

The Committee feels that the bill should come into force since the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other laws were inadequate to check the same.

“There are no laws that punish crime in the name of honour and illegal actions of communities, castes or religious organisations existing in India as on date. Some offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860 are invoked to book offenders in these cases. But these offences do not cover the entire gamut of illegal actions perpetrated in the name of honour or give adequate punishment for the acts,” said Manjunath, an advocate, during a conference held on Saturday by the DHS, in association with the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM).

The DHS and the DSMM want to achieve the objective of introducing "The crimes in the name of honor and tradition (prevention, prohibition and protection) bill 2018" in the Parliament, to curb crimes.

They are going to hold meetings with at least two prominent lawyers of all the districts of Karnataka and other states, prepare a draft which consists of proposals made by the lawyers and other members regarding the bill, and submit it to the state government on March 5.

The members present in the conference brought about the recent honor-killing incident in Telangana where a father killed his daughter’s husband who was a dalit. They presented many such examples and stressed the fact that the honor killings are increasing day by day.