On Monday, the Supreme Court strictly told the Khap Panchayats to not be the “conscience keepers of society.” The Apex Court asked them to stop interfering in a marriage between two consenting adults.
This verdict was given by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. The Bench was hearing a plea seeking a ban on Khap Panchayats. CJI Misra said, “We can’t say which marriage is null or void, which marriage is good or bad… just stay out of it.”
Misra further added, “Two persons marry… they are adults..you are no one to interfere in it.” The lawyer appearing for the Khap Panchayats stated the problem was not for inter caste or inter religious alliances but same gotra marriages.
The Khaps are a community that have considerable influence over the rural areas in North India. The group holds Kangaroo courts to dissolve marriages, dictate dress codes to women and ban cellphones.
The Bench said, “If an adult man and woman marry, no Khap Panchayat or society can question them.”
Shakti Vahini, a non government organization in 2010 filed a petition seeking directions from the state governments and the Center to prevent honor crimes.
Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran is assisting the Court in the case against the Khap. He warned the Supreme Court that the Khap Panchayats are influential and the Court must take measures to control this fringe group. The next hearing for the case against the Khap will be on the 16th of February.
