Government to form ministerial panel on honour killings
By IANSThursday, July 8, 2010
NEW DELHI - After failing to build a consensus on a proposal to deal with honour killings under a stringent law, the government decided Thursday to form a group of ministers to make suggestions on the issue.
The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters.
Ambika Soni said the cabinet discussed a note seeking amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to “effectively” deal with the killings in the name of same caste or gotra marriages.
“The issue of so-called honour killings was discussed and it was decided that the note will be sent to state governments for their view. It was also decided that the prime minister will form a group of ministers (GoM) to discuss the note in greater detail,” the minister said.
She said the “government was under pressure” to bring a bill on the issue in the monsoon session of parliament.
“We will try (that) the state governments send the suggestions to the central government soon… We will try to finalise a draft and bring it in the monsoon session,” she added.
Informed sources said the cabinet was divided on the issue because of opposition from within the Congress - especially from Haryana MPs.
