You are hereNHRC chief disfavours separate law against ‘honour’ killings
NHRC chief disfavours separate law against ‘honour’ killings
As the number of ‘honour’ killings in the country continues to rise, National Human Rights Commission chairman K G Balakrishnan said he realised the gravity of the situation only when a series of such cases happened, yet disfavours a separate law against it.
‘I did not know the seriousness of the crime till late and came to know about it recently when a series of such killings had already taken place in the country,’ Mr Balakrishnan said.
Reacting to the demand of a comprehensive law against ‘honour’ crimes, Mr Balakrishnan replied in negative and said murder was murder, nothing else.
‘Honour killings are murder only. So no other law is needed as the Constitution already has laws against such crimes,’ the NHRC chairman said.
Mr Balakrishnan, however, said, ‘Such a crime wherein a girl's father gets ready to take her life is unthinkable and serious action should be taken against the culprits.’ ‘Sensitisation of people is necessary to curb this heinous crime,’ he said and gave a clarion call to the people to join hands against it.
CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat criticised his statement and said the government needed to re-educate itself.
‘A draft of this law has already been prepared by these women organisations under the supervision of National Commission for Women (NCW) for submission to the government. But the latter does not have a mindset to understand it,’ the Rajya Sabha MP told UNI.
They were speaking at a seminar on ‘Killings and Crimes in the name of Honour’ organised by AIDWA, ISWSD, along with other women organisations across the country. Hundreds of women from different states, including Haryana, the land of khap panchayats, were present in the gathering.
NCW chairperson Girija Vyas informed the gathering that within the past one and a half months, almost 50 cases of ‘honour’ killings have come to the organisation’s notice.
‘Altogether 32 cases have been registered and we have taken suo motu notice of 15. In addition, around five couples who have married outside their castes have approached us during this period seeking support,’ Ms Vyas said.
