Supreme Court Judge for capital punishment in honour killings

CHENNAI: Decrying the practice of honour killings and fake police encounters, a Supreme Court Judge has said convicts in such brutal executions should be awarded death sentence.

Referring to honour killings prevalent in regions like western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and parts of Rajasthan, Justice Markandey Katju in a lecture here last evening said such acts were encouraged by caste panchayats.

"These honour killings were done or encouraged by these caste panchayats". As these panchayats form the vote banks for those in power "they do not want to disturb their vote bank," he said.
He said the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police "should be placed under suspension" if there were cases of honour killings in their respective districts.

"The maximum one can do if your girl is marrying someone against your will is sever social relations with her and nothing more," Katju said.

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