New Delhi:
Holding honour killings as a slur on the nation, and terming it a barbaric, feudal practice that ought to be stamped out, the Supreme Court today directed courts to view such cases as in "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," the Supreme Court said in a judgement.
"This is necessary as a deterrent for such outrageous, uncivilised behaviour. All persons who are planning to perpetrate 'honour' killings should know that the gallows await them," the court added.
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 incestuous relationship with her cousin, despite being married.