New GoM on ‘honour’ law as govt is divided
For the second time in two weeks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday referred a politically contentious issue to a Group of Ministers for further deliberations — this time on strengthening existing laws to check the growing menace of “honour killings”.
The last time was on the inclusion of caste in the national census.
The Union Cabinet was completely divided on the “honour killings” law issue: sources said the Prime Minister himself was the first to raise objections to the home ministry’s proposal to amend the IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act, Special Marriage Act and Hindu Marriage Act in this regard following a spate of “honour killings” in some northern states.
HRD minister Kapil Sibal, surface transport minister Kamal Nath and sports minister M.S. Gill expressed reservations over the proposed amendments.
Mr Sibal felt the existing laws were adequate, and if more needed to be done then new legislation on the lines of the “anti-sati” law should be enacted.
Post new comment