To rein in khaps, Home tells Law to draft stricter law

With pressure mounting and the top court in the country asking the Centre and state governments on the steps taken to prevent killing of young couples in the name of honour at the behest of self-styled khap panchayats, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed stricter clauses in the recently-finalised law on honour killings.

The MHA, which was earlier proposing changes to the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act and Special Marriages Act to allow "strictest-possible" penal action against khap panchayat members if their illegal acts resulted in the death of any person, now wants to punish them even if their actions don't result in death.

Simply put, the MHA intends to arm law enforcement agencies with the power to arrest and act against leaders and members of khap panchayats if they indulge in social boycott of anybody who they the believe has brought dishonour to a family or clan or community or caste.

Also on the cards is the provision for stricter punishment if these persons harass, parade naked, hurt, beat, declare as outcast, order to leave the village, stop water or ration supply, etc, to any person or persons who they accuse of having acted against prevailing customs of the village of khap.

An officer of the Ministry of Law told The Indian Express that the MHA has already written to the Ministry, asking that the proposed changes to the law be redrafted.

It is learnt that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily have also held discussions on the matter and both agreed that unless harassment and use of force is made a penal offence under the proposed law, khap panchayats will continue to take the law into their hands, especially since most state governments have shown little inclination to rein them in.

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