Honour Killing: A Grim Reality

Quick Summary

• Caste-based Honour Killing in Tamil Nadu: Kavin Selva Ganesh,a 27-year-old IT employee from Thoothukudi district,was allegedly murdered by his girlfriend’s brother,Surjith. The incident was attributed to caste animosity; Kavin belonged to the Scheduled Caste (Devendra Kula Velalar), while Surjith was from the Mukkulathor or Thevar community classified under Most Backward Classes.
• Pattern of Honour Killings: Tamil Nadu has seen recurring instances of caste-based honour killings targeting inter-caste couples and notably Dalit men marrying outside their caste.
• Social context: traditional marriage customs emphasizing caste purity are identified as a root cause. A draft law titled “The Freedom of Marriage and Association and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour Act, 2022” has yet to be enacted despite activists’ long-standing demands.
• Transgender Policy Released in Tamil nadu: The state government announced its State Policy for transgender Persons 2025, outlining provisions for education, inheritance rights through amendments to succession laws, HIV prevention measures like Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and clinical protocols for transgender healthcare.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The murder highlights how entrenched caste divisions continue to dominate social interactions despite modernity and urbanization. It underscores the urgent need for targeted legislation against honour killings which would serve as both deterrent and recognition of such violence as a specific social malady rooted in systemic prejudice.

On another front, Tamil Nadu’s new transgender policy marks progress toward inclusivity by addressing important issues like legal protections around inheritance rights. Though, accomplished implementation remains key-the challenge lies not just in framing policies but also ensuring they translate into tangible change for marginalized groups across diverse societal strata.

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