THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary - March 29, 2018 - Topic 1

Curbing the khaps

Many crimes committed in the name of defending the honour of a caste, clan or family may have their origin in India’s abominable caste system, but there are other contributing factors as well. Entrenched social prejudices, feudal structures and patriarchal attitudes are behind what are referred to as ‘honour killings’. 

While these cannot be eradicated overnight through law or judicial diktat, it is inevitable that a stern law and order approach is adopted as the first step towards curbing groups that seek to enforce such medieval notions of ‘honour’ through murder or the threat of murder, or ostracisation. It is in this context that the Supreme Court’s strident observations against khap panchayats and guidelines to deal with them acquire significance. It is not the first time that the apex court has voiced its strong disapproval of khaps, or village assemblies that assume the authority to discipline what they deem behaviour that offends their notions of honour. Previous judgments have made it clear that the life choices of individual adults, especially with regard to love and marriage, do not brook any sort of interference from any quarter. In the latest judgment, a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra has located the problem as one that violates the liberty and dignity of individuals, and something that requires preventive, remedial and punitive measures.

The High Courts of Punjab and Haryana and Madras have laid down guidelines to the police on creating special cells and 24-hour helplines to provide assistance and protection to young couples. The Supreme Court has now gone a step further and asked the police to establish safe-houses for couples under threat. The direction asking police officers to try and persuade khaps to desist from making illegal decisions may appear soft. But in the same breath, the court has also empowered the police to prohibit such gatherings and effect preventive arrests. How far it is feasible to videograph the proceedings of such assemblies remains to be seen, but it may be a deterrent against any brazen flouting of the law. The verdict is also notable for dealing with some points made often in defence of khap panchayats, rejecting outright the claims that they were only engaged in raising awareness about permissible marriages, including inter-caste and inter-faith ones, and against sapinda and sagotramarriages. The court has rightly laid down that deciding what is permitted and what is not is the job of civil courts. While these guidelines, if they are adhered to, may have some salutary effect on society, the government should not remain content with asking the States to implement these norms. It should expedite its own efforts to bring in a comprehensive law to curb killings in the name of honour and to prohibit interference in the matrimonial choices of individuals.

Vocabulary

Defending: resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger.

Example: We shall defend our country, whatever the cost

Synonyms: protect, guard, safeguard, secure, shield, fortify

Prejudice: preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Example: English prejudice against foreigners

Synonyms: preconceived idea, preconception, prejudgment

Eradicate: destroy completely; put an end to.

Example: This disease has been eradicated from the world

Synonyms: eliminate, get rid of, remove, obliterate, exterminate, destroy

Medieval: of or relating to the Middle Ages.

Example: A medieval castle

Synonyms: of the Middle Ages, of the Dark Ages, Dark-Age, Gothic

Context: the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

Example: The decision was taken within the context of planned cuts in spending

Synonyms: circumstances, conditions, factors, state of affairs, situation

Discipline: a branch of knowledge, typically one studied in higher education.

Example: Sociology is a fairly new discipline

Synonyms: field (of study), branch of knowledge, subject, area

Preventive: designed to keep something undesirable such as illness, harm, or accidents from occurring.

Example: Preventive medicine

Synonyms: preemptive, deterrent, precautionary, protective; prophylactic

Punitive: inflicting or intended as punishment.

Example: He called for punitive measures against the Eastern bloc

Synonyms: penal, disciplinary, corrective, correctional, retributive

Persuade: cause someone to do something through reasoning or argument.

Example: It wasn't easy, but I persuaded him to do the right thing

Synonyms: prevail on, coax, convince, get, induce, win over, bring around

Feasible: possible to do easily or conveniently.

Example: It is not feasible to put most finds from excavations on public display

Synonyms: practicable, practical, workable, achievable, attainable

Content: in a state of peaceful happiness.

Example: He seemed more content, less bitter

Synonyms: contented, satisfied, pleased, gratified, fulfilled, happy

Comprehensive: complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.

Example: A comprehensive list of sources