The Law Commission Proposed Legislation to Curb Honour Killings

The Law Commission headed by Justice P. Venkatrama Reddi approved the proposed draft legislation, The Endangerment of Life and Liberty (protection, prosecution and other measures) Act, 2011 to prosecute persons or a group involved in honour killings. Law commission member R.Venkatramni drafted the proposed legislation.

The draft legislation prohibits village elders to interfere with the life and liberty of young couples who marry as per their choice even if they belong to the same gotra. According to the legislation, village elders cannot place these couples in a hostile environment in the village concerned.

As per the draft legislation, the act of endangerment of life and liberty will mean and include measures such as social boycott, forcing people to leave their homes in the locality and deprivation of the means of livelihood.  However, the law commission turned down the demand for introducing a clause in Section 300 of the Indian Penal Code to bring honour killings under its ambit (Section 300).

The act drafted by the law commission to curb honur killings was necessary becuase Article 21 of the Constitution of India clearly states that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. Khap Panchayats can't impose their dictats on young couples.