This was conveyed by a central government counsel to the court when a batch of public interest litigations seeking a legislation against honour killing, came up for hearing.
"The Law and Justice Ministry is examining the 242nd report of the Law Commission to bring a stand-alone legislation to combat honour killing," the lawyer submitted.
He said that the Law Ministry and not the Home Ministry, is competent to bring a stand-alone legislation following which the court directed the Law Ministry be impleaded as a respondent.
The petitioners had sought a direction to central and state governments to bring a new legislation against honour killing and to provide arms to Scheduled Caste people, contemplated under Rule 3(1)(5) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 and to frame guidelines to prevent such killing.
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Subsequently, communications were sent on increasing women personnel in police forces and to set up investigative units to deal with crimes against women in select police districts.
Referring to the petitioners' submission on the Supreme Court order spelling out measures to check honour killing, the court said these directions should also be circulated by police.
It then posted the matter for further hearing to December 15.
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