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Law Commission's new draft wants khap panchayats on marriages declared illegal
- Rejecting the government's proposal to amend Section 300 of the Indian Penal Code to include ‘honour killings' within the definition of murder on the ground that the existing provisions are adequate to take care of the situations leading to such killings, the Law Commission has drafted fresh legislation that seeks to declare such panchayats unlawful.
- The Prohibition of Unlawful Assembly (Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances) Bill, 2011 proposes no person or any group of persons shall gather with an “intention to deliberate on, or condemn any marriage, not prohibited by law, on the basis that such marriage has dishonoured the caste or community tradition or brought disrepute to all or any of the persons forming part of the assembly or the family or the people of the locality concerned.”
- Marriage, according to the draft law, includes a proposed or intended marriage. The Collector or the District Magistrate has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the persons targeted in case any illegal decision is taken by the khap panchayat and he/she shall take necessary steps to prohibit the convening of such illegal gatherings.
- There has been a spurt in illegal intimidation by self-appointed bodies for bringing pressure against sagotra (same gotra) marriages and inter-caste, inter-community and inter-religious marriages between two consenting adults in the name of vindicating the honour of family, caste or community.
- Pointing out that the same gotra marriages are not prohibited by law, whatever may be the view in old time, the Law Commission says the Hindu Marriage Disabilities Removal Act, 1946 was enacted to dispel any doubts in this regard.
Eunuchs have equal right to protect their dignity: court
- The Bombay High Court said that the eunuchs have an equal right to protect their dignity and lead their life,
- Non-governmental organisation, wanted the court to direct the authorities concerned to ensure that the condition of eunuchs, living as an oppressed section, improved and that they exercised their fundamental rights.
- Justice Roshan Dalvi said: “You are equal under law. If an offence has been committed against you, you can access your rights and approach the police. If they refuse to take action, then you can approach the court with your grievance.”
The word loses its master
- Sukumar Azhikode, probably Kerala's most influential Gandhian public intellectual, award-winning writer, and scholar is no more.
- He was scathing in his criticism of duplicity and corruption in public life and was never one to run away from a battle.
- His writings on poetry gravitated towards sociological and cultural criticism. His most noted work Tatwamasi (1984) had won the Central Sahitya Akademi
- In 2007, he famously rejected the Padma Shri award conferred on him contending that such awards were against the Constitution.
- Between 1993 and 1996, Azhikode had served as chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT).
In a true democracy all get to speak, says Rushdie
- Furious over the cancellation of his video address at the Jaipur Literature Festival, award-winning writer Salman Rushdie on Tuesday slammed the Central and Rajasthan governments, saying the buck stopped with the Congress for the “awful” situation and questioned the commitment of the party to the freedom of expression.
- The controversial India-born author also hit out at the Muslim groups opposed to him and wondered whether India was moving towards totalitarianism like China by allowing extremist groups to dictate terms.
