It is hard to believe that in the 21st century, that too, in the largest democracy of the world, families murder their kith and kin for allegedly saving their honor. In India and some other countries, females in a family are considered as the custodians of the honor of the family. When a woman goes against the family, especially when they marry or elope with their partners belonging to a different caste or community, the members of the family or the community kill them for the sake of defending their honor. This paper makes an attempt to tackle the very important issue of honor killing that is growing in size day by day like a monster untamed. This paper seeks to understand the very concept of honor in killing and then highlights how honor killings are counterproductive. The paper also examines the present law as it stands, by presenting the views of the honorable courts on the subject and discusses as to what can be done to curb the menace.

Man, as a social animal, has to abide by the so-called laws of the society. And when one tries to go against this code of life, one has to pay for it. Honor killing is one such thing, where one has to pay with one’s life for going against the society.

In India and some other countries, females in a family are considered as the custodians of the honor of the family. When a woman goes against the family, especially when they marry or elope with their partners belonging to a different caste or community, the members of the family or the community kill them for the sake of defending their honor. This paper is an attempt to tackle the very important issue of honor killing that is on the rise like a monster untamed.

Law Review Journal, Social Malaise of Honor Killing, New Legislation