Follow Madras HC order on honour killing: CPM

Chennai: CPI(M) on Tuesday urged the state government to implement nine directives given by the Madras high court to curb honour killing in connection with murder of Vimala Devi honour killing case.

In a resolution adopted at the party's state secretariat meeting attended by party's general secretary Sitaram Yechury, it said that Justice V. Ramasubramanian, in his order issued in April this year, has directed the government to set up a special cell in each district to receive complaints of threat from couples who marry across the caste divide within three months time.

The resolution said that the court also directed creation of a 24-hour helpline to receive and register complaints and to provide assistance/advice as well as protection to the couple.

It said that the court also ordered disciplinary action against the police officer who fails to provide adequate security to the couples. “It shall be the duty of the station house officer of the police station within whose limits the couple move about to provide protection to them,” the resolution quoted the order. The government should without any further delay act on the court direction, it demanded.

The Marxist party pointed out that in the Vimala Devi honour killing case, the Southern Zone IG who conducted an inquiry based on the court direction, revealed that 47 police personnel had failed to do their duty. “We want the government to take appropriate action on them,” it said. CPI (M) also adopted resolution urging the government to ensure 25 per cent of seat allocation to poor in the private schools under the right to education.

Another resolution condemned Sri Lankan Navy for arresting 15 Tamil Nadu fishermen in three different incidents after the 45-days fishing ban ended on May 29.