The Madras High Court has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of honour killings in Tamil Nadu, stating that such brutal acts of violence are a stain on a society that claims to be progressive and law-abiding. The court strongly condemned the incidents where individuals are being murdered for choosing partners across caste or religion, and called upon authorities to take immediate and decisive action.The bench observed that despite existing legal safeguards, honour killings continue unabated, often due to social stigma and family opposition to inter-caste or inter-religious marriages. The judges said that love or marriage between consenting adults cannot be policed by the state or society, and certainly not punished through murder.
This observation came in the wake of several shocking cases in recent months, most notably the murder of Kavin Selva Ganesh, a 27-year-old Dalit engineer who was hacked to death in Tirunelveli. The primary accused in this case was reportedly the victim’s girlfriend’s brother, who opposed the inter-caste relationship. Shockingly, both the accused’s parents are police personnel, and they too have been booked for allegedly abetting the crime.
The court said that the involvement of law enforcement officials in such cases makes the situation even more alarming. It questioned whether the police system is failing to uphold constitutional values of equality and liberty when its own members are part of caste-based violence.
Data presented to the court showed that Tamil Nadu had witnessed close to 400 honour killings and caste-related murders between 2018 and 2023. However, only a handful of these cases have resulted in convictions, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of investigations and prosecution. Rights groups highlighted that out of over 300 cases involving Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) victims from 2016 to 2020, only 13 led to convictions.
The High Court stated that such low conviction rates send a dangerous message and demanded that law enforcement agencies act swiftly and impartially in such sensitive matters. It suggested setting up special fast-track courts to hear honour killing cases and called for stronger witness protection mechanisms.
The court also reiterated the need for sensitisation programmes within police departments and judicial systems to deal with caste-based crimes more empathetically. Judges said that no tradition, family honour, or caste pride can justify taking the life of a person.
Finally, the court urged the Tamil Nadu government to formulate clear guidelines to prevent such crimes and ensure the safety of inter-caste couples. It emphasised that honour killings are not just a law and order issue but also a challenge to the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
The bench concluded by saying that Tamil Nadu, which has a legacy of social reform and progressive movements, must take the lead in eradicating honour-based violence and upholding individual freedom and dignity.