With khap-dictated honour killings threatening to become a trend, the Centre is mulling an ordinance to rein in the caste courts meting out extreme punishments to young couples who don't follow the diktat against marrying within the same gotra. The Centre has already discussed Amendments to relevant laws -- Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act and Hindu Marriage Act -- to deter village elders from holding kangaroo courts which call...

The Delhi High Court today dismissed a petition seeking Amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) in order to prohibit marriages in the same clan (gotra). A vacation bench of Justices S N Dhingra and A K Pathak warned that a heavy cost would be imposed on the petitioner, Naresh Kadyan, for wasting the time of the court prompting him to withdraw his plea. "You don't know what gotra is....

In an effort to curb discrimination against minors suffering from communicable diseases, Government is all set to amend an act providing for the care and protection of children. The draft bill to amend the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act, seeks to prohibit authorities from sending minor children to mental asylums, and separate treatment for those suffering from diseases such as leprosy and TB. According to the Amendments,...

The Central Information Commission decides to appeal against a judgment of the Delhi High Court that threatens to disrupt its smooth functioning. SHAILESH GANDHI, a Central Information Commissioner, recently said the Right to Information (RTI) Act faced a serious threat from the government and the judiciary. His warning came in the context of the woefully inadequate government-sanctioned resources and the number of stay orders issued by High Courts on the...

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking an Amendment in the Hindu marriage Act to ban marriages within the same gotra (sub caste). The apex court asked the petitioner to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the same. Demanding Amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to prevent weddings within the same 'gotra' (sub caste), a delegation of Khap panchayats had met Haryana CM Bhupinder...