NEW DELHI: The

National Commission for Women

has recommended removal of the word 'honour' from

honour killing

while describing crimes when a person is killed to save a family's 'honour'. The NCW's recommendation came after an inquiry into the hurried cremation of a girl by her family in a Greater Noida village mid-June.

The girl, studying in a Bulandshahr college, had eloped twice from her home in Bhaipur-Brahampur village, police said. On June 15, her family members cremated her. Police suspected it was a case of honour killing.

The NCW team said neither an FIR nor a complaint was registered in the case. The team suggested criminal prosecution against lawyers even remotely connected with defending the accused. It also noted that such cases were increasing.

In its recommendations, the inquiry committee, headed by NCW member Charu Wali Khanna, said, "The usage of the word (honour) has a tendency to rationalize and legitimize the motive of the crime by creating a false notion that the crime has been committed to save the 'honour' of the family. Thus implying society is bound by tradition to protect this violation of tradition."

The NCW suggested special provisions/ chapter in the Indian Penal Code to prevent such crimes.