Conceding the demand of the ruling DMK’s allies, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday told the state assembly that the government would constitute an expert committee to recommend necessary steps and inputs for enacting a legislation to curb honour killing.
The chief minister, responding to demands from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) of Thol Thirumavalavan, the Left Parties, and others, informed the House that the panel would be headed by Justice KN Basha, who retired from Madras High Court. It would have as its members legal experts, renowned scholars and progressive thinkers, he added.
The committee, he said, would elicit views from all sections of society, political parties and movements, NGOs and social activists as well as victims of honour killing and their families.
Following a spurt in honour killings in the state, there has been a persistent demand from the CPI(M), CPI, and the VCK to bring in a statute to prevent honour killings and related atrocities. Further, bringing a legislation in this regard was a pre-poll promise of the DMK. However, the ruling DMK has been reluctant in bringing legislation thus far.
The DMK’s ideological mentor, the non-Brahmin rationalist Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), has welcomed the government’s move to constitute an expert panel. In a statement to the media, DK president K Veeramani said “This is a step in the right direction and also shows the way for the whole country in tackling the social menace.”