Honour killing bill to come up in monsoon session

The government proposes to seek Parliament nod during monsoon session to make all individuals who order honour killings liable to be booked for murder, along with those who actually commit the crime. Nagendar Sharma reports.

The government proposes to seek Parliament nod during monsoon session to make all individuals who order honour killings liable to be booked for murder, along with those who actually commit the crime.

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Armed with a favourable response from more than half of the 28 states on the issue, the nine-member group of ministers (GoM) headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, on Friday decided to give a final chance to the 10 states which have so far failed to respond on the controversial issue.

“So far, 18 states have sent their responses, 15 of them have favoured the centre’s proposal and two have offered no comments. Haryana is the only state which is opposed. Already eight months time has been given to the states,” said a highly placed government source.

The GoM will hold its next meeting soon to finalise the recommendations, including the proposal to amend section 300 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which defines murder.

The proposed bill has defined honour killing as an act committed by family members or a group belonging to any caste or community in the belief that the victim has brought dishonour.

“The expression dishonour shall include adopting an unacceptable dress code, choosing to marry within or outside the gotra and engaging in sexual relations unacceptable to a family or community,” according to the draft bill.

The ministers who attended the GoM meeting played down differences between some ministries on the proposed amendments. The women and child development ministry is learnt to be opposed to the proposal of shifting the burden of proving the innocence of the accused.