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Attack on adult man, woman by khap panchayat ‘absolutely illegal’: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday termed any attack by ‘khap panchayat’, individual or association against adult and and female opting…

Attack on adult man, woman by khap panchayat ‘absolutely illegal’: SC

Supreme Court of India (Photo: IANS/File)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday termed any attack by ‘khap panchayat’, individual or association against adult and and female opting for inter-caste marriage.

The apex court said if an adult man and woman marry, no khap, panchayat, individual or society can question them.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud asked the Centre to give its reponse on suggestions earlier given by amicus curiae (friend of the court) 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).

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“Whenever there is any kind of collective attack on a boy or girl who are adult, it is absolutely illegal,” the bench said and listed the matter for February 5 for further hearing.

The apex court had earlier sought suggestions from an NGO ‘Shakti Vahini’, amicus curiae and ‘Khap Panchayats’ on the issue.

Khaps are caste or community organisations in villages which at times act as quasi-judicial bodies and pronounce harsh punishments based on regressive and age-old customs and traditions.

The NGO had moved the top court in 2010 seeking directions to the central and state governments to prevent and control honour crimes by taking a number of measures.

Earlier, the apex court had invited ‘khap panchayats’ to hear their views before issuing any order to stop them from harassing and killing couples and women in the name of honour.

The Centre had pleaded with the apex court to put in place a mechanism to monitor crimes against women by khap panchayats, as the police was not able to protect women facing ordeal at their hands.

(With agency inputs)

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