Khap menace

Khap menace

Context:

• It is not the first time that the Supreme Court is impelled to remind khap panchayats and the society at large that they have no business interfering in the life choices of individuals regarding marriage and love.

Supreme Court’s latest observations:

• The court’s latest observations are that khap panchayats should not act as though they are conscience-keepers of society.
• And no one should interfere in relationships between adults came while it was hearing a writ petition seeking a ban on such community organisations and guidelines to put an end to “honour killings”.

Key concern:

• It is a grave misfortune that parents and self-appointed guardians of society continue to use coercion and harassment, and even resort to murderous violence, as a means to enforce their exclusionary and feudal prejudices.
• These khap organisations in north India seek to enforce age-old taboos such as the prohibition on sagothra marriages among Hindus.

Bill to prohibit interference in marriage alliances:

• The Law Commission in 2012 prepared a draft bill to prohibit interference in marriage alliances.
• Key provisions that seek to address the problem of khap panchayats in this draft say such informal groups would be treated as an ‘unlawful assembly’.
• And decisions that amount to harassment, social boycott, discrimination or incitement to violence should be punishable with a minimum sentence.
• Whether the solution is social transformation or legislative change, high-handed mediation or interference should brook no sympathy.