PANEL DISCUSSION ON HONOUR KILLINGS<br>

NHRC Secretary General, Mr. K.S. Money attended a panel discussion on honour killings in New Delhi on the 12th May, 2010. This was organized by the Indian Women's Press Corps in the backdrop of honour killings of the couples married in the same gotra and the role of Khap (Caste) Panchayats.
The other panelists included Mr. Sompal, former Union Agriculture Minister, Ms. Kirti Singh, former Member, Law Commission and eminent Lawyer, Ms. Prem Choudhary, a
noted academician, Ms. Neerja Choudhary, President, Indian Women Press Corps, who also moderated the discussion.
Mr. Money said that 'honour killings' are a violation of the most fundamental right to life. He pointed out that the most dishonorable practice of 'honour Killing' is an extreme form of discrimination against women as it seeks to control the thoughts and action of women, their choices. He said that there have been instances of caste panchayats forcefully separating married couples, letting off rapists, killing couples for marrying within the same sub-caste, for marrying outside the caste or religion and a host of other grounds. He said that the criminal justice system has to bring the perpetrators of these flagrant violations of human rights to book.
The panelists by and large agreed that the Khap Panchayats, instead of supporting directly or indirectly any such acts which end in the killing of the fellow human beings in the name of social customs, should focus on other important issues of social welfare.