News: The Karnataka government is in the process of coming up with a comprehensive law aimed at preventing and punishing crimes committed in the name of “honour” and tradition, particularly those targeting inter-caste couples.

About

• ‘The Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026’
• Proposed legislation seeks to strongly affirm the right to choose one’s partner while introducing stringent penalties for violence, coercion and intimidation
• Referred to as ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava Kanoonu, 2026’, inspired by a well-known Vachana by 12th-century reformer and anti-caste advocate Basavanna

The bill recognizes

Section 3(1) of the Bill explicitly states that all persons have autonomy over their own lives, including:

• The Right to liberty
• Freedom of expression
• Freedom to marry a person of their choice

The Bill allows couples planning an inter-caste marriage to inform the district magistrate or a designated nodal officer about their decision- this declaration is optional and “shall not be a pre-condition

What punishments does the Bill propose for honour-based violence?

• Causing “grievous hurt” to a couple, or either of them: A minimum of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, which may extend to life imprisonment, along with a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh
• In cases of killing in the name of ‘honour’, the Bill mandates a minimum five-year imprisonment, in addition to punishment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).
• Sexual relationships and false promises of marriage: Punishable as rape, with rigorous imprisonment of at least five years, extendable to life imprisonment, along with a fine.

Institutional mechanisms

• Every district must have a Special Cell to deal specifically with such cases.
• The district magistrate can set up an ‘Iva Nammava Vedike’, a local forum made up of officials and other members decided by the government