New Delhi: The Supreme Court today said that Khap panchayats’ diktat on dress code for women and asking them not to carry mobile is unlawful.
A bench of justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai said such diktats are against the fundamental right to life and asked Khap Panchayats (caste-based councils) to file their replies on the issue.
“It (such diktat) also violates the law. How can someone ask others not to carry mobile,” the bench asked when the Centre told it that such orders are being passed by them against women.
Leaders of various Khap Panchayats of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana today appeared before the Supreme Court in response to its invitation, extended during its last hearing to them to express their views. They told the court that ‘very distorted facts’ have been projected about them in the court.
Top police officers from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also appeared before the Supreme Court and submitted that although Khaps issued some socially retrograde resolutions but they were never directly involved in ‘dishonour killings.’
Additional director generals of police (law and order) of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh said Khaps also play positive roles at times like passing resolution against foeticide.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by an NGO Shakti Vahini seeking court’s direction to the government to take action against Khap Panchayat for allegedly harassing and killing couples, particularly women in name of family’s honour for entering into inter-caste or intra-gotra marriages.
on one hand govt want the help of khap but on other hand do not want to impose khap views In fact our judiciary and govt is so week that they take the decision only when, when people of country start loosing faith in them like rape of Delhi
India is on brink of collapse not only morally but also financially Govt judiciary seems to work under pressure not on facts or reality
In recent rape case every govt institution is barking for tough rape law has any govt institution said a single word on the death of a police constable
That is the difference between us and UK(England) that is why the rule us for 150 years and I can assure you they will again rule this country again But now I will respect them