The ruling DMK’s allies including the Congress, VCK and CPI-M along with activists working for the uplift of the Scheduled Castes/Tribes have renewed their call for enacting an exclusive legislation to deal with caste-hatred induced murders that are passed off as ‘honour’ crimes. Against the backdrop of the murder of Kavin Selvaganesh, a young engineer from Tirunelveli working in a leading IT firm, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste, they have questioned Chief Minister M K Stalin’s stand in the Assembly contending such a special law was not required.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, K. Selvaperunthagai, on Tuesday said he does not share the Chief Minister’s opinion. “A separate law against ‘honour-related crimes’ has to be enacted. The Chief Minister had said in the Assembly that he would use an iron hand to end such murders and there is no need for a separate law…but we don’t agree with that opinion. A separate law is in place in few other states. It needs to be passed [in Tamil Nadu]. The laws already in place have not been enough to curtail [such] violence,” he told The Hindu.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, who had positioned himself as the DMK’s ‘ideological ally’ in “the fight against Sanathana Dharma”, in a statement said he was worried to learn of the caste-violence and murders continuing “unabated” in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. He underscored his repeated demands to create an intelligence unit within the police force to tackle caste-related crimes have not been heeded to by the State government.
“The Law Commission of India has already create a draft law which has not been passed for several years now,” he said. His party general secretary D. Ravikumar, said the Supreme Court itself in the Shakti Vahini Vs Union Of India case (2018) had batted for such a legislation.
“While directing the Union Government to enact the law, the SC had said what the State Governments should do in the interim. Guidelines were framed and sent to all the Chief Secretaries of the States. SC has given the Law Commission’s draft law to the Union Government. Since 2018, we have urged the Union Government to enact a law. State governments have not implemented the SC order. Why?,” he asked.
CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam on Tuesday demanded the arrest of the Sub-Inspector parents of the alleged murderer Surjith. “The continuing spate of violence reiterates the need for a separate law and undercuts the State Government’s argument that existing criminal laws are enough to tackle such crimes,” he said.
A. Kathir of Evidence, a civil rights organisation, said, “If existing criminal laws were enough, then why do we need a SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act? Why do we need a separate law against harassment of women? A special law brings attention to crimes against the marginalised. We need a broad law to deal with ‘honour’ related crimes. If, for instance, a backward caste family murders the young woman in their family instead of the Scheduled Caste youth who she falls in love with, will SC/ST Act apply? What if she is killed for falling in love with another BC man,” he asked.
Published – July 29, 2025 09:03 pm IST
