Human Rights Commission deplores 'Khap' directive, upholds right to life

New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): Taking a note of recent media reports about acts of violence against Hindu couples allegedly perpetrated by or at the behest of some Khap (Caste) Panchyats in Haryana, the National Human Rights Commission has said that no one has the right to take law in his hand by violating an individual's right to life in the name of tradition.

The NHRC through a release on Thursday stated that it has also taken note of their alleged demand of an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act, banning the marriages in the same gotra on the ground that such marriages will amount to marriage between a brother and a sister, unacceptable among Hindus as per tradition.

Issuing notices to the public authorities wherein complaints or media reports have alleged violence against the couples married in the same gotra or inter-caste in parts of Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, the NHRC has asked them to take action against those responsible for such acts violating the human rights of the people.

It has also asked the concerned State Authorities in Uttar Pradesh in a particular case of this nature to inform the Commission about the steps taken by them to deal with such issues or preventing interference by the Khap Panchayat in the Criminal Justice System

The issue of amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act, banning same gotra marriages is a subject matter of wider debate keeping in view the national perspective on the social, cultural and raditional aspects, as well as an individual's right to liberty as enshrined in the Constitution, the NHRC release stated. (ANI)