People's Democracy

AIDWA Hails Verdict

On ‘Honour’ Killings

The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has issued the following statement on May 10:

THE AIDWA welcomes the Supreme Court judgment underscoring the gravity, barbaric and feudal nature of killings in the name of ‘Honour’. The judgement exposes the failure of the government to take appropriate action and bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. It has been a long standing demand of AIDWA that such killings and crimes in the name of ‘Honour’ be dealt with by a comprehensive stand-alone legislation. This legislation should punish both the killings and other crimes like harassment of the couple and the economic and social boycott of the couple and the boy’s family that are committed in the name of ‘Honour’. The legislation should also provide protection to couples wishing to enter into a marriage of their choice and facilitate such marriages. The AIDWA has submitted a comprehensive legislation in this regard to the government about a year ago but till date no action has been taken. We therefore demand that the UPA government should immediately take action and legislate on this vital issue so that perpetrators of these crimes including khap and other caste and community panchayats are held accountable and are appropriately punished. We further demand that immediate directions to the police should be issued by the government to ensure that these crimes are properly investigated and the criminals are apprehended.