When two people get married, no one should interfere: Supreme Court against honour killings

The Supreme Court of India on February 5, 2018 ruled that two adults are free to get married and no third party be it parents or society or khap panchayats, have any right to cause harm to them.

The ruling was made against the acts of honour killing by three judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

By ruling this, the apex court upheld the fundamental right of people by giving them liberty to decide about their marriage as per their wish and live peacefully.

The ruling came after activist Madhu Kishwar informed the Supreme Court about the recent murder of Ankit Saxena, a young man who was allegedly murdered by his lover's parents on the ground of honour killing.  To this, the court emphasised that no one has any individual, group or collective right to harass a couple.

The court also ruled that it is up to the courts to decide legally whether a marriage is null and void or children are legitimate or illegitimate, or in the case of a property dispute, nobody else has the right to mediate.

The apex court also asked the government to suggest guidelines to curb honour killings.

Background
The court was hearing a petition filed by NGO Shakti Vahini to make honour killing a specific crime.

NGO Shakti Vahini moved the Supreme Court in 2010 seeking directions from the central and state governments to prevent and control honour crimes by taking a number of measures.