Khap attacks on couples illegal, says SC

New Delhi, January 16

Describing attacks by khap panchayats on adult men and women going for inter-caste marriages as “absolutely illegal”, the Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the government for not doing much to rein them in.

“Whenever there is any kind of collective attack on a boy or girl… who are adults, it is absolutely illegal,” said a Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra while hearing a PIL filed in 2010 by Shakti Vahini, an NGO, seeking directions to the Centre and states to take steps to prevent honour killings.

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The Bench said if an adult man and woman went for a marriage, no khap panchayat, individual or society could question them. It asked the Centre to give its response to the suggestions given by amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran on ways to prevent harassment and killing of young couples in the name of family honour for marrying inter-caste or intra-clan (gotra).

Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand sought time to file government’s response.

“What we are concerned with is if an adult girl or boy gets into marriage, no khap, no individual or no society can question them,” the Bench said, indicating it would pass appropriate order on February 5, next hearing date. — TNS