Honour killing: SC issues notice to Centre

New Delhi, Jun 21: Scrutinizing the increasing number of honour killings, Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and six states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, to take preventive measures against the social evil.

Supreme Court received a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO, Shakti Vahini, seeking proper action against those who implement the brutal ways in the name of honour.

"Such crimes include torture, mutilation, rape, forced marriage, imprisonment within the home and even murder. These crimes are intended to protect the family honour by preventing and punishing women for allegedly violating community norms of behaviour, particularly sexual behaviour. Women have been abducted, arrested or raped and are often blamed for shaming their families. Reasons for honour killings can be as trivial as talking to a man, or as innocent as suffering rape. These crimes are often collective and premeditated," the NGO had said in its plea.

NGO had also requested to constitute a special cell in each district where young couples can approach for the safety measures, which can prevent honour killings to a certain extent.

The movements came after a teenage couple was brutally murdered and hanged in Bhiwani district of Haryana.

OneIndia News