Khap mahapanchayat demands ban on live-in relationships

Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, July 30
The All India Sarv Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat has called for the need to bring amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) in accordance with social norms, abolition of the system of ‘live-in relationship’ and ban on same-sex marriages.
The mahapanchayat organised by the Sarv Jatia Binain khap in Danoda village of Jind district on Sunday was presided over by Binain khap pradhan Raghubir Singh Nain. It was attended by representatives of about 300 khaps from the north Indian states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

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Blot on society
The system of live-in relationship is a blot on society as the children of such couples face neglect and problems. They are never taken care of by their parents who have no strong family and social ties and thus there are chances that such youth wander in anti-social activities. — Raghubir Singh Nain, Pradhan, Binain Khap

After discussion in the meeting, the mahapanchayat formed a 51-member coordination committee comprising prominent khap leaders which will take up the issues with the government. Nain was also appointed head of this coordination committee.
Nain said they have been striving for a civilised society and to free the entire social environment from evils and bad customs and traditions. He said all khap representatives agreed on the issue that there was a need to make amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act keeping in view the prevailing norms and values of the society.
The khap leader said they had been raising the demand for changes in the HMA by ushering in restrictions on matrimonial ties between youngsters who belong to the same village or same gotra. They also demanded restrictions on marriages within gauhand (in villages which enjoy social bhaichara).
Nain said they have also demanded doing away with the system of ‘live-in relationship’ among the younger generations. “This system is a blot on society as the children of such couples who live in illicit relationships face neglect and problems. “Such children are never taken care of by their parents who have no strong family and social ties and thus there are chances that such youth wander in anti-social activities,” he said.
Another issue taken up by the khap representatives was about same-sex marriages. The khap leader said there was also an urgent need to impose a legal ban on homosexuality and same- sex marriages. He said homosexuality brings shame to the entire society. “This shameful and inhuman act should be banned with immediate effect,” Nain said.
Rashmi Balyan, a woman khap activist from Uttar Pradesh, said the meeting had also taken up other issues concerning society such as stress on environmental protection, prohibition on dowry system and child marriage, de-addiction and emphasis on cultural education.
Ranbir Samain, president, Haryana Sarpanches Association and member of the Samain khap, extended support to the khap panchayats on all issues. “We extend whole-hearted support to the khap panchayats and are in agreement with them on these issues,” he said.