K’taka bill moots freedom of choice in marriage

Bengaluru: The state govt Thursday cleared a bill prescribing stringent punishment for honour killings and to promote freedom of choice in marriage. Titled Eva Nammava, Eva Nammava, 2026, the bill proposes a minimum jail term of five years for offenders committing crimes in the name of honour or tradition. All such offences shall be cognizable and non-bailable.The bill, expected to be tabled during the ongoing budget session of the legislature, also grants protection against false promise of marriage, wherein a person engages in physical relationship with an adult woman over promise of marriage but later refuses to fulfil his commitment upon knowing the woman's caste. After much debate on whether there was any need for a separate bill against honour killing, considering the stringent laws under BNS and other allied legal measures that are already in force, the new legislation was passed citing the need to spell out "freedom of choice in marriage and prevention and prohibition of caste-based crimes". The state govt is believed to have tweaked the bill to make it more stringent to pursue honour killing cases, amid concerns over "false" complaints against dominant communities. Ministers from these communities had sought a higher burden of proof to establish that a crime was committed in the name of honour. The new bill states that "without prejudice to the punishment provided under BNS, whoever causes death through any means or commits any such act that results in the death of a couple or either of them or any person in the name of honour" shall be punished with minimum imprisonment of 5 years. Further, it shall have punishments ranging from two to three years for participating in honour killing, criminal intimidation or social or economic boycott. Meanwhile, no decision was taken on the new state education policy report, which will be studied in detail before a final call is made. Regarding the construction of a new international cricket stadium at KHB Suryanagar, the govt has opted to complete the Rs 1,980 crore project for the stadium and a sports village in a phased manner. BOX: Other decisions: * Rs 100 extra professional tax only for Feb* New state advertising policy* Centre of excellence in agriculture at Kalaburagi