New Delhi : A court here has asked the central women and child development ministry to intervene in the matter of “honour killing” so that medical and legal assistance, professional psychological counselling, shelter and other support is provided to the survivors.
“It is cases (‘honour killing’) like these where the state intervention is necessitated. The ministry of women and child development is required to intervene for restorative justice so that the medical and legal assistance, professional psychological counselling, shelter and other support is provided to these victims who are survivors,” said Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau.
In the order delivered last week but only made available Monday, the court opined that young victims and survivors of “honour killings” are the state’s responsibility and need to be rehabilitated.
“These survivors are often abandoned and hounded by their own (paternal families) and exploited by their in-laws and find themselves being pushed into destitution. They are mentally shattered, socially isolated and unable to decide for their own and it is under these circumstances that the state intervention is necessitated to ensure that they are provided help, security and rehabilitation,” the court said.
The court also recommended for setting-up of Women Shelters and Protection Homes where the security of couples, facing the wrath of their families, community and society, can be ensured.
It also asked government to think over some processes where compensation can be provided to survivors of “honour killings”.
The court order came while observing that a survivor of honour killing was threatened by one of her relatives.
Recording the statement of 20-year-old woman, whose husband was murdered by her brother in 2013, noted that the woman, who had come to depose as a prosecution witness in the case was being intimidated by her brother-in-law Ravinder.
Taking it into account, the court ordered the deputy commissioner of police, Outer Delhi, to ensure a regular vigil on the woman through some female officer. It has asked police to submit a fortnightly report over the girl’s condition.
Meanwhile, the girl’s elder brother-in-law Devender, assured the court that he would take care of her and keeps away his younger brother from her. Ravinder also gave a similar undertaking.
However, the court ordered a welfare officer to keep a check on her and said that in case the officer is of the opinion that it is not conducive for the woman to continue stay with Devender’s family, then arrangements should be made to shift her to some shelter home where her rehabilitation can be taken care of.