Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, States on honour killings

New Delhi, June 21 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan on the honour killing issue.

Justices R M Lodha and A K Patnaik sought a response from these governments to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO 'Shakti Vahini' seeking stern action against those resorting to such killing.

The NGO complained that though there was a spurt in such killings in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Haryana, neither the Centre nor the state governments were taking steps to curb the menace of honour killings.

"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 said in its plea.

The NGO has demanded that states should constitute a special cell in each district where couples could approach for their safety.

On Sunday, Monika (18) and her lover Rinku (19), both from Jat families, were brutally killed at Nimriwali village, near Bhiwani.

The father of the girl, her brother, uncle and cousins are suspected to be behind the crime and are absconding. (ANI)