Supreme Court raps khap panchayats, asks them not to become 'conscience keepers'
Supreme Court
The top court said 'it is the courts to decide if marriages are legally valid or not'
The Supreme Court on Monday cracked a whip against khap panchayats in connection with cases pertaining to so-called honour killing.
The topcourt asked khap panchayats to "not become conscience keepers" as the "law will take its own course".
The top court also asked the Centre and petitioners to come up with effective suggestions for the protection of couples from khap panchayats.
The Supreme Court told the advocate representing khappanchayats that "it is the courts to decide if marriages are legally valid or not."
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The Supreme Court also pulled up the Khap Panchayats for taking the law into their own hands in the name of so-called honour killings.
Earlier on January 16, the top court rapped the Centre for failing to prevent attacks on couples, who did inter-caste marriages.The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, said, "If the Centre does not act against Khap Panchayats, then the court will step in."
The top court also observed that "no Khap Panchayat or society can question" if an adult man and woman opt for an inter-caste marriage.