Honour killing: HC upholds life sentence for Four men

The Delhi high court has upheld a trial court’s conviction of four persons in an honour killing case. Passing its order, the court said, the practice of honour killing negates an individual’s freedom to choose his or her spouse.

The Delhi High Court has upheld a trial court’s conviction of four persons in an honour killing case. Passing its order, the court said, the practice of honour killing negates an individual’s freedom to choose his or her spouse.

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In 2001, a trial court had convicted Preetam, Shyamlal, Devender and Himmat for the murder of one Mahesh, who had an affair with Shyamlal’s daughter Parvesh.

“The practice negates an individual’s freedom to choose his or her spouse, and leading a life, with dignity, and enjoying the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The practice places exaggerated value on endogamous choice, dictated by kith and kin, on one hand, and denies outsiders the freedom of choosing their partners, based on consent. Such social practices, which sanction what are plainly crimes, require the severest condemnation,” the court said.

“By all accounts, the appellants’ motive was to teach the deceased a lesson, and do him to death, is what has been termed as honour killing,” it said.