New Delhi: Holding dishonour killings as a
slur on the nation and a barbaric, feudal practice that ought
to be stamped out, the Supreme Court on Monday directed courts to
view such cases as "rarest of rare" category for awarding
death penalty to the convicts.
"In our opinion honour killings, for whatever reason,
come within the category of rarest of rare cases deserving
death punishment. It is time to stamp out these barbaric,
feudal practices which are a slur on our nation.
"This is necessary as a deterrent for such outrageous,
uncivilized behaviour. All persons who are planning to
perpetrate `honour` killings should know that the gallows
await them," the apex court said in a judgement.
A bench of justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha
Mishra passed the judgement while dismissing an appeal filed
by Bhagawan Dass challenging the life imprisonment awarded to
him by a Delhi Sessions Court for killing his daughter Seema
as she was allegedly in an incestous relationship with her
cousin, despite being married.
PTI
