CLPR held a consultation on its draft Freedom of Marriage and Association and Prohibition of Honour Crimes Bill in Jaipur on 16th May 2022. The consultation was held in collaboration with Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network (DHRD Net) and supported by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Rajasthan and Manuski.
Last month, a Special Court at Madurai convicted 10 of committing an honour crime in Tamil Nadu. The verdict led to renewed demands for a separate legislation that targets the heinous acts known as ‘honour killings’. This piece outlines the current legal framework for dealing with such acts and how a targeted law will be better equipped to ensure their deterrence.
Dr Ambedkar firmly believed that intermarriage is one of the ways to break caste hierarchies. But today’s reality and data show the other picture. In India where 1/6th of the population is Dalit, the atrocities against Dalit persons have been increased by 9.3% in the year 2020. ‘Honour crimes’ are one of the major atrocities faced by Dalits in our country.