‘Honor Killing’ is still a common occurrence in today’s developing India. Recently the murder of photographer Ankit Saxena, who was killed by the family members of the girl whom he loved on the 1st of February, 2018 has brought shock to the entire nation, making the citizens wonder as to why two people in love cannot lead a peaceful life.

In the light of the recent events of hate crimes against adult marriage and while listening to the PIL filed by NGO Shakti Vahini with regard to honor killings in India, the Supreme Court firmly directed the Khap Panchayats not to interfere in the matters of adult marriage. The Supreme Court further added that an adult marriage is very much governed by the laws of the state and the Khap panchayats have no right or authority to pass any orders in such a case in the name of moral licensing. The Supreme Court has even announced that it would set-up a committee which would include senior police officers to look into matters pertaining to interferences in the adult marriages by local and village level bodies such as the Khap Panchayats.

The Khap Panchayats in the Indian rural set-up have taken a drastic turn as they have emerged as union of villages that often pass jarring punishments based upon the traditions which are out dated and a blockage in the path of attaining progressive growth of the country. The Khap Panchayats have taken the role of a moral police, which means that they restrict the freedom of a citizen citing morals as the reasons of their harsh judgments.

One of the reasons as to why the Supreme Court’s recent announcement is a progressive stand is because lately the Khap Panchayat’s judgments have emerged as the manifestations of hate crimes especially propagating and often encouraging honor killings. There have been cases such as in Uttar Pradesh, of Khap Panchayats ruling against women who use mobiles or wear western clothing. Such rulings are a defeat and failure in front of a country which is still on the roadway of development. The Khap Panchayats represents a set of clans or community which makes declarations on social issues such as marriage; however their judgments are not legally binding in nature. If such heinous Khap Panchayats are not banned, several individuals will continue to lose their innocent lives in the name of family honor or in the name of what is deemed to be morally correct.

Khap Panchayats have also been a perpetuator of hate crimes against women, putting up a controversial question on their existence and is also mentally traumatizing for the women community who are at their merciless hands.

Also Read: The Disgust of Rape: Why the Hatred for Rape Crimes should not be specific towards one’s Religion or Caste

The recent announcement by the Supreme Court which has asked the Khap Panchayats to stop intruding into cases of inter-caste and inter-religion adult marriages is a ray of hope for the rural India, which has been victimized and has suffered through the actions of Khap Panchayats. As such, when two adults mutually decide to get married, no Khap Panchayat and no society member have the right of passing any judgment on their decision. The Supreme Court has taken a constructive step as taking decisions which impact the lives of others in the name of social conscience is wrong and is not permitted to anyone as per the law.