Bill mandating death penalty for 'honour killing' passed in Rajasthan Assembly

A bill was passed in the Rajasthan Assembly on Monday to curb incidents of 'honour killing' in the state with the provision of punishment of death penalty or life imprisonment for murdering couples in the name of family honour.

The Rajasthan Prohibition of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2019 was passed by a voice vote.

The bill was introduced in the House last week by parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Dhariwal said that sections of IPC and CrPc were not adequate in dealing with such cases so the bill was moved. "It has been introduced so that people overcome the narrow mindset."
The bill says, "Whoever causes death of a couple or either of them on the basis that marriage of such couple has dishonoured, or brought disrepute to the caste, community or family shall be punished with death, or with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and with fine which may extend to Rs 5 lakh."