Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor Vijay, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a dedicated law to curb caste-related honour killings. The plea comes after the brutal murder of Dalit software engineer Kavin Selvaganesh in Tirunelveli.
The Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has moved the Supreme Court seeking a special law to deal with caste-based honour killings, saying that the current laws in India are not enough to stop such crimes. The petition has been filed by TVK general secretary for elections, Aadhav Arjuna, following the shocking murder of 27-year-old Dalit software engineer, Kavin Selvaganesh.
On July 27, Kavin was brutally hacked to death outside a hospital in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli. Police have said that he was allegedly attacked by Surjith, the brother of the woman Kavin was in a relationship with.
The woman belonged to the dominant Thevar community. Soon after the crime, Surjith’s parents, who are both sub-inspectors in the Tamil Nadu police, were named in the FIR and suspended from service. His father, Saravanan, was later arrested as well.
The plea argues that caste-based honour killings continue to take place across Tamil Nadu despite existing legal provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
It says that a separate, strong law will help prevent such incidents and provide for specific measures like witness protection, special investigation, and speedy trial.
TVK is not alone in demanding such a law. Other political parties like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the CPI(M) have also urged the Tamil Nadu government to bring a dedicated legislation against caste crimes related to honour.
Rights activists point out that Kavin’s case is not an isolated one. Evidence, a Dalit rights organisation based in Madurai, has documented more than 80 cases of caste-related honour killings in Tamil Nadu since 2015. However, the conviction rate in such cases continues to remain extremely low.
Campaigners believe that without a special law, justice for victims and their families becomes very difficult.
They argue that the enactment of a new legislation would make sure that honour killings are recognised as a distinct category of crime, which would also allow for proper data collection, fast-track courts, and better protection for survivors and witnesses.
The matter is now before the Supreme Court, which will hear TVK’s petition seeking a clear and comprehensive law to tackle the issue of caste-based honour killings in India.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on TVK
