SC notice to Centre, states on honour killing

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and some states on the growing cult of honour killings being reported across the country.

A bench of Justices R M Lodha and A K Patnaik sought response from the respective governments on the petition filed by NGO 'Shakti Vahini' expressing grave concern over the recent spurt of such killings carried out at the instance of khap panchayats.

The NGO complained that though there was a spurt in such killings in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Haryana, neither the Centre nor the state governments were taking steps to curb the menace due to "vote-bank politics."