The Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court urging the enactment of a separate law to tackle caste-related honour killings, arguing that existing legal provisions are insufficient to prevent such crimes.
The petition, filed by TVK general secretary for elections Aadhav Arjuna, comes months after the murder of 27-year-old Dalit software engineer Kavin Selvaganesh.
On July 27, Kavin was hacked to death outside a hospital in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, allegedly by Surjith, the brother of the woman he was in a relationship with. She belonged to the dominant Thevar community.
Surjith’s parents, both sub-inspectors in the state police, were named in the FIR and later suspended. His father, Saravanan, was also arrested.
Other parties, including Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the CPI, and CPI(M) alhad also urged the state government to bring in special legislation.
Activists say Kavin’s case is not isolated. Evidence, a Dalit rights organisation based in Madurai, has documented at least 80 caste-based honour killings in the state since 2015, while conviction rates remain abysmally low. Campaigners argue that a dedicated law would allow for accurate data collection, fast-track trials, witness protection, and recognition of honour crimes as a distinct category of violence.
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