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The proposed law is titled ‘Karnataka Prevention and Prohibition of Offenses in the Name of Freedom of Choice and Respect and Tradition in Marriage Bill, 2026’.
The draft bill is now expected to go before the state cabinet till its next meeting. (File image: DIPR/PTI)
CNN-News18 has obtained a draft copy of the new “strict” law Karnataka is now preparing to crack down on crimes being committed in the name of.Respect“And with a special focus on inter-caste couples facing tradition, violence, coercion and social punishment.
This step has been taken after the murder of young Manya Patil in Hubli. She was allegedly murdered by her own family members for marrying a man from the Scheduled Caste community. The case has once again focused attention on so-called honor killings and caste-based violence in the state.
The Karnataka government is now in the process of making changes to the final version of a comprehensive law that aims to prevent and punish crimes such as “honor killings in the name of tradition”. Law department sources said the draft is expected to be presented to the Cabinet for approval and may come up in the next Cabinet meeting.
The proposed law is titled “Karnataka Prevention and Prohibition of Offenses in the Name of Freedom of Choice and Respect and Tradition in Marriage Bill, 2026”. It also has a Kannada name coined by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil – “Eva Nammava Eva Nammava Kanunu, 2026”.
The draft promises tougher punishment – up to at least five years of imprisonment – depending on how the crime is committed, while also outlining measures to ensure the safety of adults. It lists a number of acts that would count as “honor killing” crimes, including death, injury, harassment, intimidation, and kidnapping. It also involves social punishment, such as forcibly declaring the couple as brother-sister.
At the heart of the proposed law is a direct assertion of adult choice. It also creates a safety net where couples can declare their intention to have an inter-caste marriage with the District Magistrate, who will in turn inform the police so that no action is taken against them. The draft states, “All persons shall have the right to autonomy over their lives, including the right to liberty, freedom of expression and freedom to marry the person of their choice.”
It also makes it clear that no family or caste permission is required when two adults decide to get married. It states, “Once two adult persons agree to enter into marriage the consent of the person’s parents, family, caste or clan is not necessary.” It further indicates that whoever tries to prevent such a marriage will commit an offence: “Any action to prevent the exercise of the rights… shall be deemed to be an offense under the provisions of this Act.”
On convictions for murder in the name of “honour” or “tradition”, the draft proposes a minimum imprisonment of five years if there is evidence of murder. It says, “Without prejudice to the punishment provided under the Indian Judicial Code, whoever causes death by any means in the name of ‘honour’ shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a minimum of five years.” It also says, “In case of murder or manslaughter, killing of a couple or any one of them or an individual in the name of ‘honour’ will be punished with imprisonment of a minimum of five years.”
For grievous hurt, the proposed punishment is much more severe – ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment with a fine. It says, “Whoever, in the name of honour, causes grievous hurt to a couple or to any one of them, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life and with fine which may extend to three lakh rupees.”
Even minor injuries can result in imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 2 lakh. It says, “Whoever causes simple hurt…shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment…not less than three years, but which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees.” It also states that “grievous hurt” and “ordinary hurt” will have the same meaning as under the Indian Judicial Code.
The draft also covers intimidation, including against members of an unlawful assembly. It says, “Any person… including any member of an unlawful assembly, indulges in criminal intimidation… shall be punishable with imprisonment… not less than three years, but which may extend to five years… and… fine… which may extend to two lakh rupees.”
On unlawful assembly, it says, “Any person…taking part in any unlawful assembly…shall be punished with imprisonment…for not less than six months which may extend to five years and…fine…which may extend to one lakh rupees.”
The draft also warns against destruction of evidence. It says, “Whoever…with intent to prevent the offender from being punished…makes any evidence disappear…shall be punished with the punishment provided for that offence.”
The same punishment will be given for instigating or conspiring. It says, “Whoever abets, attempts or conspires…shall be punished in the same manner as if he himself has committed the offence.”
The draft toughens the offences, declaring them cognizable and non-bailable. “All offenses under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable,” it says.
It also gives a broad definition of crimes in the name of honor or tradition. It says, “No person or persons shall do any act in the name of caste, culture, custom, tradition or so-called ‘honor’… on the ground that that person violates cultural, caste, social or traditional norms.” The list includes death, injury, harassment, intimidation and kidnapping.
The draft also includes social penalties, which mention “social and economic exclusion” and “excommunication, ostracism or forced expulsion or displacement/expulsion”. This entails forcing couples to pay fines, and involves “forcibly declaring the couple as brother and sister”.
The draft also clearly mentions symbolic rejection rituals. It states, “Performing a symbolic rejection ritual (such as a tithi or equivalent death ceremony) against a living person.”
This includes denial of property rights and interference with inheritance. It mentions, “wrongfully denying or interfering with the rights of succession to property.”
The proposed law also covers unlawful imprisonment and cutting off communications, including “unlawfully imprisoning any person”, “seizing a person’s phone, laptop”, and “freezing bank accounts”.
It also includes workplace harassment, which includes pressure that results in job loss. It mentions, “the reason for termination of the couple’s employment by their employer.”
The draft also covers sexual violence, forced abortion, forced marriage, forced divorce, incitement to hatred and defamation.
A key provision in the draft deals with sexual relations under false assurance of marriage in inter-caste alliances. It says, “Any person who has sexual intercourse with an adult female by promising or promising marriage, and subsequently refuses… to disclose the caste of the female, shall be deemed to have obtained consent by fraud… thereby committing an offense punishable as rape under this Act.”
If there is prima facie evidence that the refusal was due to caste antagonism, the draft creates a presumption against the accused. “There would be a rebuttable presumption that the promise of marriage was false from the very beginning,” it says.
This also puts a burden on the accused. It states, “The accused shall bear the burden of proving… that the promise was made in good faith and was refused due to unforeseeable circumstances unrelated to caste.”
The proposed punishment is severe. It says, “Rigorous imprisonment… not less than 5 years which may extend to imprisonment for life, and also fine.” It also states that this will be considered a serious honor offence, in addition to the BNS provisions.
The draft also provides for a safety net for couples. It says couples can declare their desire to get married to the district magistrate or a nodal officer. It clearly states, “No action will be taken against the said couple by the police and/or any other authority.”
It also clarifies that this declaration is not mandatory. It says, “Such declaration shall not be a condition precedent to the exercise of his rights under section 3 of this Act.”
Couples can also approach the civil court for protection. It said the court “shall issue an injunction” to prevent parents or relatives from interfering. Once security is ordered, it says, “it will be the responsibility of the police to ensure complete security.”
The draft also creates a duty on the state to protect victims and witnesses. “It shall be the duty and responsibility of the State to make arrangements for the protection of the victims, their dependents and witnesses,” it says.
This gives the police a strict timeline. “Police… will immediately and not later than 6 hours provide security and safety measures… including finding shelter homes,” the draft said.
The proposed law also mandates safe houses. It said, “It shall be the duty of the State Governments to provide a home and a safe place to stay for couples in need of shelter.” It says couples living in safe houses should have privacy and access to lawyers and NGOs.
This draft bill is now expected to go before the cabinet in the next meeting.
January 16, 2026, 22:32 IST
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