CNN-News18 has accessed the draft copy of the new “tough” law Karnataka is now preparing to crack down on crimes committed in the name of “honour” and tradition, with a sharp focus on inter-caste couples facing violence, coercion, and social punishment.
The move comes in the aftermath of the murder of young Manya Patil in Hubballi. She was allegedly killed by members of her own family for marrying a man from a Scheduled Caste community. The case once again brought focus to so-called honour killings and caste-based violence in the state.
The Karnataka government is now in the process of tweaking the final version of a comprehensive law aimed at preventing and punishing such “honour killing in the name of tradition” crimes. The draft is expected
to be presented for cabinet approval and could come up in the next cabinet meeting, law department sources said.
The proposed legislation is titled “Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026”. It also carries a Kannada name coined by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil—”Iva Nammava Iva Nammava Kanoonu, 2026”.
The draft promises strict punishment—minimum five years to life—depending on how the crime is seen to have been committed, while also laying down measures to ensure the safety of adults. It lists several acts that will count as “honour killing” crimes, including causing death, injury, harassment, threats, and abduction. It also includes social punishment, like forcibly declaring the couple as brother and sister.
At the centre of the proposed law is a direct assertion of adult choice. It also creates a protection route where couples can declare their intent for an inter-caste marriage with the District Magistrate, who will in turn inform the police so that no action is taken against them. The draft states, “All persons shall have the right to autonomy over their own lives, including the rights to liberty, freedom of expression, and freedom to marry a person of their choice.”
It also makes it explicit that no family or caste permission is needed once two adults decide to marry. It says, “The consent of the person’s parents, family, caste or clan is not necessary once the two adult individuals agree to enter into a marriage.” It further flags that anyone trying to stop such a marriage will be committing an offence: “Any action to prevent the exercise of the rights… shall amount to an offence under the provisions of this Act.”
On punishment for killing in the name of “honour” or “tradition”, the draft proposes a minimum five-year imprisonment if there is evidence of killing. It says, “Without prejudice to the punishment provided under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, whoever causes death through any means… in the name of ‘honour’ shall be punished with minimum imprisonment for a term of five years.” It also states, “In case of killing or death, death of a couple or either of them or any person in the name of ‘honour’ shall be punished with minimum imprisonment for a term of five years.”
For grievous hurt, the punishment proposed is far more severe—10 years to life imprisonment, along with a fine. It says, “Whoever causes grievous hurt to a couple or either of them in the name of honour shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment… not… less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life and with fine which may extend to three lakh rupees.”
Even simple hurt attracts imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh. It states, “Whoever causes simple hurt… shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment… not… less than three years, but which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees.” It also adds that “grievous hurt” and “simple hurt” will have the same meaning as under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The draft also covers intimidation and threats, including by members of an unlawful assembly. It states, “Any person… including any member of an unlawful assembly indulges in criminal intimidation… shall be punishable with imprisonment… not less than three years but which may extend to five years… and… fine… up to two lakh rupees.”
On unlawful assembly, it states, “Any person… participating in any unlawful assembly… shall be punishable with imprisonment… not less than six months but which may extend to five years and… fine… up to one lakh rupees.”
The draft also warns against evidence being destroyed. It states, “Whoever… causes any evidence… to disappear with the intention of screening the offender from punishment… shall be punishable with the punishment provided for that offence.”
Abetment or conspiracy will carry the same punishment. It states, “Whoever abets, attempts or conspires… shall be punished in the same manner as if he had himself committed that offence.”
The draft makes the offences tougher, declaring them cognizable and non-bailable. It states, “All the offences under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.”
It also gives a wide definition of crimes in the name of honour or tradition. It states, “No person or persons shall commit any acts in the name of caste, culture, custom, tradition or so-called ‘honour’… on the ground that the person has transgressed cultural, caste, social or traditional norms.” The list includes causing death, injury, harassment, threats, and abduction.
The draft includes social punishment too, mentioning “Imposing social and economic boycott”, and “excommunicating, ostracisation or forcible removal or displacement / eviction”. It flags forcing couples to pay a fine, and includes “Forcibly declaring the couple… as brother and sister”.
The draft also explicitly mentions symbolic disownment rituals. It says, “Performing symbolic disownment rituals (such as thithi or equivalent death ceremonies) against a living person.”
It includes denial of property rights and interference with succession. It mentions, “Wrongfully denying or interfering with succession rights in property.”
The proposed law also covers illegal confinement and cutting off communication, listing “Confining any person illegally”, “confiscation of a person’s phone, laptop”, and “freezing the bank accounts”.
Workplace harassment is also covered, including pressure that results in job loss. It mentions, “Causing the termination of the job of the couple… by their employer.”
The draft further covers sexual violence, forced abortion, forced marriage, forced dissolution of marriage, spreading hatred and defamation.
A key provision in the draft deals with sexual intercourse under false assurance of marriage in intercaste alliances. It states, “Any person who engages in sexual intercourse with an adult woman by giving assurance or promise of marriage, and subsequently refuses… upon disclosure… of the woman’s caste, shall be deemed to have obtained consent by deceitful means… thereby committing an offence punishable as rape under this Act.”
If there is prima facie evidence that the refusal was because of caste opposition, the draft creates a presumption against the accused. It states, “There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the promise of marriage was false from the inception.”
It also places the burden on the accused. It states, “The accused shall bear the burden to prove… that the promise was made in good faith and the refusal was due to unforeseen circumstances unrelated to caste.”
The punishment proposed is severe. It states, “Rigorous imprisonment… not less than 5 years, which may extend to life imprisonment, and fine.” It also says this will be treated as an aggravated honour crime, in addition to BNS provisions.
The draft also lays out protection mechanisms for couples. It says couples can declare their willingness to marry to the District Magistrate or a nodal officer. It clearly states, “No action shall be taken by the police and/or any other authority… against the said couple.”
It also clarifies that this declaration is not compulsory. It says, “Such declaration shall not be a pre-condition… to exercise their rights under Section 3 of this Act.”
Couples can also approach a civil court for protection. It says the court “shall issue an injunction” restraining parents or relatives from interfering. Once protection is ordered, it states, “It shall be the responsibility of the police to ensure complete protection.”
The draft also makes it the duty of the State to protect victims and witnesses. It states, “It shall be the duty and responsibility of the State to make arrangements for the protection of victims, their dependents, and witnesses.”
It gives a strict timeline to police. The draft states, “The police… shall immediately and not later than 6 hours, provide protection and safety measures… including… finding a shelter home.”
The proposed law mandates safe houses as well. It says, “It shall be the duty of the State Governments to provide homes for couples in need of shelter and a safe place to stay.” It adds that couples in safe houses must get privacy and access to lawyers and NGOs.
This draft bill is now expected to go before the cabinet by the next meeting.
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