Brief Context
Context In India, caste remains a deeply rooted social structure, and ‘honour’ killings are emerging as a violent yet socially legitimised tool to preserve caste hierarchies, especially against inter-caste unions. About Honour Killings Definition: Honour killings refer to the murder of individuals (mostly young couples) by family or community members for allegedly bringing “dishonour” through relationships that defy caste, community, or gender norms. Geographical Pattern: States like Tamil Nadu,
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Syllabus: GS1/ Indian Society
Context
- In India, caste remains a deeply rooted social structure, and ‘honour’ killings are emerging as a violent yet socially legitimised tool to preserve caste hierarchies, especially against inter-caste unions.
About Honour Killings
- Definition: Honour killings refer to the murder of individuals (mostly young couples) by family or community members for allegedly bringing “dishonour” through relationships that defy caste, community, or gender norms.
- Geographical Pattern: States like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Kerala, where Dalit empowerment through education and jobs is higher, record both higher rates of inter-caste marriages and higher cases of honour killings.
- Paradox: Violence is most visible where caste hierarchies are being challenged, not where they remain unchallenged.
- According to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data, India recorded 25 cases of honor killings in both 2019 and 2020, with a rise to 33 cases in 2021.
Reasons of Honour Killings
- Caste endogamy: Families act as gatekeepers of caste boundaries and women’s choice is policed to preserve lineage, land, and status.
- Khap/community sanctions: Informal councils/kin networks encourage or legitimise violence or social boycotts.
- Fear of Exclusion: Families who don’t conform to traditional marriage norms face pressure and fear of being ostracized by their communities.
- Anonymity in social media: Social media glorify caste pride and vigilante narratives, normalising punishment for defiance.
What are the Impacts?
- Constitutional rights: It violates Articles 14, 15, 19, 21 of Indian Constitution.
- Gendered violence: Disproportionately targets women asserting choice; also affects men from stigmatised castes/communities.
- Erosion of rule of law: When communities take law into their own hands, it weakens the state’s authority to use force legally and also scares the police and witnesses from doing their duty.
- Social fragmentation: It stokes caste/religious polarisation, discourages inter-group mobility and integration—hurting social capital and inclusive growth.
Measures taken against Honour’ Killings
- There is no standalone central law on honour crimes yet; cases are prosecuted as murder/attempt etc. under Indian Penal Code (now replaced by BNS) and allied laws, along with SC/ST Atrocities Act where applicable.
- Law Commission (Report 242, in 2012) recommended a specific law to curb unlawful assemblies (Khap interference) in matrimonial choice.
- The Rajasthan government in 2019 enacted a special law prohibiting interference with matrimonial alliances in the name of honour/tradition—notable for criminalising collective/community pressure.
Way Ahead
- Dedicated Legislation: Enact a central law criminalising honour crimes and unlawful community interference, building on Law Commission recommendations and Rajasthan’s example.
- Data & Monitoring: Improve NCRB classification to capture all forms of honour crimes (murder, attempt, abetment, threats) with real-time reporting.
- Protection & Rehabilitation: Establish district-level safe shelters, legal aid, counselling, and financial support for inter-caste and inter-faith couples.
SOURCE: TH