Essays for IBPS PO VII : Honour Killing - Most Heinous Crime

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Honour Killing - Most Heinous Crime

Overview

• What is honour killing ?
• Reasons behind this killing.
• Sociologists analysis regarding this killings.
• Khap panchayats and its verdict. 
• Not only in India, it occurs in many countries. 
• Indian law against it.
• NCRB's report regarding honour killing. 
• To check honour killing is a collective affair.

An honour killing is the homicide of a member of a family by other members as it is believed that the victim has brought shame or dishonour upon the family or the community she belongs. Honour killing usually is committed by male family members against female family members, who are held to have brought dishonour upon the family. Rarely men can also be the victims of honour killing. The term 'honour killing' applies to both men and women in cultures that practice it. The distinctive nature of honour killing is the collective nature of the crime.

Many members of an extended family or community plan the act together and the commit the crime. Another significant characteristic of honour killing is that the perpetrators often do not face Negative stigma with in their family and community, because their behaviour is seen as justified. 

Honour killing is the murder of a member of a family or by other members due to the perpetrator's belief that the victim has brought dishonour upon the family or has violated the principle of a community or religion. Honour killing are directed mostly against women and girls. 

According to statistics, honour killings have been reported in Northern regions of India mainly in the states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. It is prevalent to a lesser extent in South India and the Western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. In West Bengal, honour killings completely ceased about a century age, due to reformism.

Now, there are various reasons why people or family members decide to kill the daughter in the name of preserving their family honour. The most obvious reasons are refusing to enter an arranged marriage, being in a relationship that is disapproved by their family, having sex outside marriage, being the victim of rape, dressing in a way which is viewed as inappropriate, renouncing a faith etc.
 

According to them, if any daughter dares to disobey her parents on the issue of marriage and decides to marry a man of her wishes but from another gotra or outside her caste, it would bring disrepute to the family honour and hence they decide to give the ultimate sentence, that is death, to the daughter. 

Sociologists believe that the reason why honour killings continue to take place is because of the continued rigidity of the caste system. Hence, the fear of losing their caste status through which they gain many benefits make them commit this heinous crime. The other reason why honour killings are taking place is because the mentality of people has not changed and they just cannot accept that marriages can take place in the same gotra or outside one's caste. 

The other side of the story points fingers towards the role played by Khap Panchayat of Haryana in honour killing. These pachayats are self driven set ups that have gained wicked popularity for having paved a way for honour killing. Boycotting families from villages that chose to allow their children's marriages to their choice, supporting the families in honour killing are some of the naive activities of these panchayats. 

The unlawful laws of the Khap panchayats are imposed through social boycotts where the victims are killed or forced to commit suicide. All these inhumane activities are done in the name of brotherhood and honour. Love marriages are considered a taboo in these areas. The famous `Manoj Babli' honour killing case in June, 2007, for the first time convicted the defendants for honour killing case. This killing was ordered by a Khap Panchayat in Haryana on 30th March, 2010 for the first time in Haryana state history, a death penalty verdict was announced in this double murder case for the five accused. 

It is important to note that honour killing is not specific to India only. It continues to be prevailing in other parts of the world too. Reports submitted to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) show that honour killings have occurred in countries like Bangladesh, Great Britain, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Jorden, Pakistan, Morocco, Sweden, Turkey and Uganda. 

`Honour killing' is a recognised form of violence against women in international human rights law because it violates women's right to life and security and as well as every other article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Honour killings also violate the convention on c.)) the elimination of all forms of discrimination against woman (1979). 

This convention has been signed by 185 countries world wide over 90% of 3 the members of the United Nations including most countries where L.rD `honour killing' occurs. India is also a part of the signatories.  

In India, honour killings are homicide and murder which are serious crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The preparators can be punished as per Section 302 of the IPC. The members as well as the community can be prosecuted under Section 302 of IPC. Apart from this, honour killings also violates Articles 14, 15(1) and (3), 19, 21 and 39(f) of the Constitution of India. 

On the other hand the Supreme Court in a judgement on 19th April, 2012 has termed the Khap panchayats illegal and has directed the State Governments to take strong measures to prevent any atrocious acts by the Khap panchayats. 

Alarmed by the rise of honour killings, the Government of India assigned the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to collect data on honour killings since January 2014. The Law Commission has submitted its 242 report titled as "Prevention of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances" and has recommended for bringing a legislation namely "The Prohibition of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliance Bill" to curb the social evil of the caste councils /panchayats interference and endangerment the life and liberty of young persons marrying partners belonging to the same gotra or to a different caste or religion. 

The need of the hour is to check such incidences with full force. The problem must be tackled at several fronts. Firstly, the mentality of the people has to change. When we say that the mentality has to change, we mean to say that parents should accept their children's wishes regarding marriage as it is they who have to lead a life with their life partners. 

The government too should make sincere efforts to educate the people and formulating the policies thereby strengthening the governance of rule of law. There is a need for media to lend a hand in creating local awareness about the horror of honour crimes. One must keep a thing in the mind that humans do not have the right to write down death sentences of innocent fellow human being merely on the basis of choices they make. 

Difficult Words with Meanings :

• Perpetrators - to do something that is illegal or wrong
• Taboo - a social or religious custom placing prohibition or restriction on a particular thing
• Instigating - to cause (something) to happen or begin
• Transgress - to violate a law, command, moral code etc
• Atrocious - extremely or shockingly wicked.

shared by Nisheeta Mirchandani

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