Indian Court Urges Death Penalty for 'Honour Killings'

May 9, 2011

Indian court urges death penalty for 'Honour Killings'
AFP - May 9, 2011 7:02

Photo: An Indian woman feeds the pigeons in front of The Gateway of India in Mumbai. Photograph by: Sajjad Hussain, AFP/Getty Images


NEW DELHI - India's top court said Monday the death penalty should be given to those found guilty of so-called honour killings, calling the crime a barbaric "slur" on the nation.

India has seen an upsurge in such killings that mainly involve young couples who marry outside their caste or against their relatives' wishes and are murdered to protect what is seen as the family's reputation and pride.

"It is time to stamp out these barbaric, feudal practices which are a slur on our nation," the Supreme Court said.

There are no official figures on honour killings, though an independent study last year suggested that as many as 900 were being committed every year in the northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/india/35349-indian-court-urges-death-penalty-honour.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35349

Many go unreported, with police and local politicians turning a blind eye to what some see as an acceptable form of traditional justice by families seeking to protect their honour.

"All persons who are planning to perpetrate 'honour' killings should know that the gallows await them," Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra said in their ruling, adding that no one can take law into their own hands.

If someone is unhappy with the behavior of a relation, "the maximum he can do is to cut off social relations . . . but he cannot take the law into his own hands by committing violence or giving threats of violence," the bench said.

The court made the statements as it dismissed an appeal by Bhagawan Dass against a life sentence for strangling his daughter, Seema, in 2006 over an alleged extra-marital affair with a cousin.

India's Supreme Court only awards the death penalty in what it calls the "rarest of rare" category.

"In our opinion honour killings, for whatever reason, come within the category of rarest of rare cases deserving the death punishment," the court said.

However, when the Supreme Court does authorize executions, they are regularly delayed indefinitely or commuted by the president.

Last August, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said he would present a bill in parliament which will provide specific, severe penalties to curb such killings.

© Copyright (c) AFP

source: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Ind...627/story.html

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

__________________
Prayer = TALKING to God; Meditation/Simran = LISTENING to God !
With the Divine Love & Blessings of WAHEGURU Ji, I wish you peace, love, light (enlightenment), health & happiness in life!

As much as I dislike the death penalty, I can't help but think this is a step in the right direction - if it is actually implemented.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35349

We shall see.

Perhaps the following greater context will be even more appropriate as it all relates to criminal death of females in different contexts in India,

What will happen? If you have an enemy, kill his son/daughter and show it as a honour killing. Double blow.

WOW..the Voting score is SAWA LAKH...was I surprised when i saw the RESULTS ?? Just ME..voting to disagree and its 100%..both the other choices..0 responses..ha ha
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35349
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35349

Anyway two wrongs dont make one right..so the SC hanging a honour killer wont bring nay honour to the SC either...its shame all the way.

Punjabis behave that way...
iF they cant kill....then on their deathbed..they will swear FALSELY and implicate the other side family...daughters and wives included...in the hope that the State will hang them !!
Thats why a British Judge once opined..NEVER beleive a DYING PUNJABI..he is sure to LIE all the way. ha ha how right.

Kanwaljit.Singh ji I thought such was reserved for the rich or famous, police, judiciary and the politicians. Foxes guarding the chickens as they say.

This is just so called distraction politics. Keep people busy on sexy (quite real and noble in concept but insignificant in real terms) so they never focus on the real deal! Additionally I do not have the stats but I would not be surprised if a large percent of Honor killings back track into minorities like Sikhs and Muslims hence putting the majority on a pedestal. It is like another black mark against Sikhs and Muslims.

On another note, did you never (perhaps unfair question for you as may not be your time) spot the same gun in the pictures of fake encounters from the 80's in Punjab?

Sat Sri Akal.

Ambarsaria ji

Wow!!!! You put this together in a completely different light. Honor killings have to be squelched somehow. Personally I would not second-guess the efforts of the courts to do something about it, if only to speak out in the most unambiguous ways. Honor killing does occur among Hindus too. Back tracking to Sikhs and Muslims may not be the only track. This is an issue that affects all levels of society, but is particularly severe in areas run by the village panchayat. We have stories about this. Legitimacy comes for honor killings, corrective rapes, disfigurement, sati because of tribal codes, no matter religious adherence. But I think where you make the sharpest point: the way the issue is presented. It does indeed create another kind of caste ... the high minded who dispense of their moral duty by lecturing everyone else publicly, but there is no real action. And any number of miscarriages of justice are conveniently side-stepped once one has "done one's duty" by making a speech.

I am sorry I may have diverted the thread with my 'false implications' angle. But I believe much of the law is 'misused' than properly implemented.