Maharashtra govt frames rules to curb honour killings, 'khap panchayat' diktats against couples, mob violence

The Maharashtra government has framed rules to prevent honour killings khap panchayat diktats mob lynching as well as violence and asked the Director General of Police to apprise personnel across the state force of their implementation an official said on FridayThe rules which have been mentioned in a government resolution GR issued on Thursday are in keeping with the recommendations of the Supreme Court on the issue he addedThe GR has directed that police stations across Maharashtra should exercise alertness if an incident of intercaste or interreligious marriage is reported in their respective jurisdictionsIt also laid down that khap panchayat and similar organisations should be reported to district and police authorities and lawenforcing agencies must get in touch with the members of these outfits and tell them such meetings are not allowed as per lawLocal police must be alert and if necessary ban such meetings the GR stated adding that if a meeting is held despite a ban then the deputy superintendent of police must be in attendance and participants must be told no decision should be taken that harms the couple in question or their kinPolice will be required to videograph such meetings and people who take decisions violative of rules will be liable to be booked for criminal offences the resolution addedAlso read Mumbai Prohibitory orders in city from 1st to 15th NovemberIf the meeting of a khap panchayat or any such outfit cannot be banned as per law and if there is a possibility that the couples lives are at risk prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPC should be issued and participants must be arrested as per the GRApart from arrests under the Indian Penal Code IPC provisions remedial measures will include protection to the couple and their familiesThe district magistrate police commissioner or superintendent should handle the threats given to the couple and their families sensitively and it must be checked if the couple are adults so that if needed they can be helped to get their marriage registeredComplaints from the couple about threats being received from relatives community members and khap panchayatlike bodies must be probed by local authorities and a report should be submitted within a week and those threatening the couple should be booked under section 151 of CrPC it saidPolice officials not adhering to these rules deliberately or due to negligence can face punitive action including departmental inquiry under service rulesTo stop mob violence and lynching police have been asked to train rapid action force teams in each districts Water cannons and tear gas should be used to control mobs Attackers at the site should be immediately arrested the resolution stressedIn cases where a protest by a group or organisation has resulted in violence and loss of property the leaders or officebearers of the group should present themselves for questioning in the police station within 24 hours failing which they will be declared absconders and will have to face legal action the GR statedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever