Today, On 28th April, The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals filed by convicts in the Kannagi-Murugesan honour killings case. It upheld the High Court’s decision, maintaining life sentences for nine convicts while commuting one death penalty and acquitting two others of all charges.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court dismissed appeals from the convicts in the Kannagi-Murugesan honor killings case from Tamil Nadu, upholding the Madras High Court’s 2022 ruling.
The High Court commuted the death sentence of one convict to life imprisonment and acquitted two others of all charges, while affirming the convictions and life sentences of nine individuals.
Also Read: Honour Killings in India: Cultural Practices vs. Legal Provisions
A Bench led by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia awarded Rs.5 lakh in compensation to the victims’ family, represented by advocate Rahul Shyam Bhandari.
The Kannagi-Murugesan honour killing case is one of the most shocking cases of caste-based violence in Tamil Nadu. In 2003, a young couple, Kannagi and Murugesan, who belonged to different castes, fell in love and got married against the wishes of their families.
This inter-caste marriage triggered extreme anger among the girl’s relatives, leading to a brutal murder plotted in the name of protecting family honour.
Also Read: Supreme Court Slams UP ‘ Honour Killing’ as “Out-and-Out Murder”
Kannagi, a member of the Vanniyar community (classified as Most Backward Class), fell in love with Murugesan, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste, while they were both studying at Annamalai University in Chidambaram.
Originating from Puthukkooraippettai village in Cuddalore district, the couple married secretly and registered their marriage on May 5, 2003. Kannagi’s family reacted with outrage upon discovering their union.
Prosecution evidence revealed that on July 8, 2003, poison was forced into the couple’s throats at the village cremation ground, and their bodies were burned to create the illusion of a suicide.
Following a flawed investigation by local authorities, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation at the request of Murugesan’s father, with a final report submitted in 2009.
A special court in Cuddalore convicted 13 individuals, sentencing the victim woman’s brother to death, while the others received life sentences.
The Supreme Court’s judgment in the Kannagi-Murugesan case is a strong reminder that caste-based honour killings will not be tolerated. It strengthens the principle that the right to marry a person of one’s choice is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).
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