Law against honour killings drafted

NEW DELHI: With reports of 'honour' killings of young couples and 'kangaroo' court rulings on the rise, government 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," he said when asked to comment on the proposed law that the Home Ministry had prepared.

The Law Minister had a couple of days ago said that the government was planning to bring the bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament next month to provide for deterrent punishment for 'honour' killings.

"We have already finalised a draft and the bill should come in the next session," Moily had said.

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