CABINET-HONOUR 2 LST

The GoM will have greater and indepth look at the
proposals, Soni said, adding the terms of reference of the GoM
would be decided when it is set up by the Prime Minister.
She said there was "urgency" to bring about changes in
the law to deal with "so-called honour killings".
"We do feel the pressure to bring the amendment in
Monsoon session of Parliament," she said.
"There is not only social pressure, not only media
pressure but within our own Cabinet and party, we feel that
the so-called honour killings have to be brought under the
ambit of the law of the land and how best this can be done,"
Soni said.
It was decided to have wider consultations and seek
opinion of state governments before the law is amended, she
said.
Later, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the government's
intention is to introduce the amendment bill in the monsoon
session.
"Consultations will be completed well before the
(month-long) Monsoon session is over and views of the state
government (will be) placed before the Cabinet," he said.
The amendments that have been proposed aim at bringing
honour killings under the definition of murder by amending the
Indian Penal Code.
It would also seek to amend the Indian Evidence Act
which would bring the onus on Khap Panchayats to prove their
innocence in any such case.
The khap panchayat (caste council) or any group
ordering honour killings and any person who carries out the
diktat will be jointly liable for punishment under the
proposed legislation.
The Government also plans to do away with the 30-day
notice period under the Special Marriage Act for inter-caste
and inter-religion marriages.
Taking note of the recent spurt in 'honour' killings, the
Supreme Court had last month sought response from the Union
Government and eight states on steps taken to prevent such
incidents. PTI SKU
MRD


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