New Delhi, June 23
With reports of honour killings of young couples and ‘kangaroo’ court rulings on the rise, the Centre today said it has drafted a law that will seek to put an end to such ‘extra-judicial’ actions.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily told reporters here that the Home Ministry has already prepared a Bill aimed at “putting an end” to such crimes being reported from different parts of the country.

“The Home Ministry has already drafted a Bill, which has been vetted. It will be a tight law to put an end to such crimes,” said Moily.

The Law Minister had a couple of days ago said that the Union Government was planning to bring the bill in the monsoon session of Parliament next month to ensure tough punishment for honour killings.

He had said that the bill envisaged amendments to several related acts, including the Evidence Act, and the onus would be on the accused to prove their innocence.

Meanwhile, the Congress today asked the government to deal with honour killings sternly. “We are deeply concerned over the recent spate of violence and murder in the name of honour killings. There are various levels at which this violence and murder needs to be addressed and studied. We believe that time has come now to take a national view in this matter,” party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters at the AICC briefing here.

Asked about the party’s position on same gotra marriages, Natarajan said: “Violence and murder for any reason cannot be condoned. Constitutional and criminal laws should be upheld at all costs.” — PTI