Madras High Court pulls up Tamil Nadu government over increase in cases of honour killings, demands immediate action

Madras High Court has slammed the Tamil Nadu government over recent incidents of honour killings, and has asked on the actions taken by the state government to control the incidents. Madras High Court expressed dissatisfaction against the state government for not taking adequate action against the incidents of honour killings which are on the rise in the state of Tamil Nadu.

A bench comprising Justices Manikumar and Subramaniam Prasad took a suo moto case based on media reports of honour killings incidents which led the Madras High Court to intervene into the matter. The bench mentioned that 81 honour killings have taken place in the state in the last 3 years and asked the state government on what action it has taken to curb the honour killings.

The bench came down heavily on the state government, asking on the actions taken by it in order to implement the March 2018 order of the Supreme Court which entitles to the risings cases of honour killings. The Justices also observed that caste has become a dominant factor in the cases even in the Democratic set up of the state assembly, raising concerns over the enforcement of casteism by the political parties.

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Madra HC has sent a notice to the state government demanding a reply on the matter on July 22. Furthermore, a notice has also been sent to the Centre over the status of the draft bill which was recommended by the Law Commission to stop the honour killings.

Notably, there were two recent cases of honour killing in the state which led the Madras HC to take up suo motto cognisance.

A young couple was brutally killed by the family of the girl in sleep at Tuticorin for marrying the boy against their will of parents because they both were from different castes. Photographs of the incident shook the entire state. In another incident at Coimbatore, the boy's brother murdered his own brother and the girl, since the girl belonged to Dalit community. This incident took place 10 days earlier. 

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