Khap panchayat opposes proposed amendments in honour killings

A body representing caste councils of western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, has said that they oppose the proposed amendments of law to deal with honour killings and will submit a memorandum to the president on the issue.

The All Khap Panchayat held at Shamli town in Muzaffarnagar district last evening, in which the head of different caste councils from western Utter Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, had decided to oppose the proposed amendments on honour killings.

"We will also submit the memorandum to the president on July 21. The future course of action will be decided in the next meeting to beheld on July 26," secretary of the All Khap Panchayat Subhash Balian said.

The khap council has also demanded amendment in Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, disallowing marriages between same gotra.

The government on July 8 had decided to set up a group of ministers (GoM) to suggest changes in the present law and said it felt "pressured" to move these amendments in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament beginning on July 26.

The Union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh, also decided to seek views of states on the "sensitive" issue after it discussed the matter to some length.

The amendments that have been proposed to aim at bringing honour killings under the definition of murder by amending the Indian Penal Code.

It would also seek to amend the Indian Evidence Act which would bring the onus on Khap Panchayats to prove their innocence in any such case.

The khap panchayat (caste council) or any group ordering honour killings and any person who carries out the diktat will be jointly liable for punishment under the proposed legislation.

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.