Hundreds of honour killings taking place in country: CJI

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said that hundreds of people are being killed in the country for falling in love and marrying against the wishes of their families and regardless of caste and religion. The Chief Justice was speaking at the Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture in Mumbai on the topic of Law and Morality.

"In 1991, when a 15-year-old girl was subjected to honour killing by her parents, the villagers approved of the crime. It was fair according to their society's code of conduct. Members of marginalized weaker sections are forced to submit to dominant groups. In a parliamentary democracy, laws are passed by majority vote. Every case which comes before the High Court or the Supreme Court is important to the Courts. Judges do not distinguish between cases," he said.

The Chief Justice said that Dr Ambedkar made a revolutionary statement by wearing a three-piece suit. "Dalits were forbidden from wearing fine clothes and ornaments at that time. Ambedkar chose this type of dress to reclaim the essence of his oppressed community. Every individual, society and community has its own morality," he added.