SRED contributed to the government to draft a new law on ‘honour’ killings

In India, Dalits are placed at the lowest rung of the caste hierarchy based on ritual purity. When women from dominant castes marry men from oppressed castes, caste-based and patriarchal norms come to bear. The women’s families often do not allow them to live with each other, utilising threats of violence, false police complaints, and other tactics to separate them. In many cases, the lower caste man is killed. There is no specific law that defines and criminalises ‘honour killing’ and perpetrators are often not held accountable. 

Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED) works to build leadership and advocacy skills of marginalised rural women, especially Dalit and tribal women, so that they can lead strong movements to claim their land rights, political rights, and socio-economic rights and well-being. They have established three movements in Tamil Nadu thus far: Tamil Nadu Dalit Women's Movement, Tamil Nadu Women's Forum, and Women Coalition for Change. 

When there are inter-caste marriages in the communities they work in, SRED is approached for advice regarding safety and legal rights. Recognising the need for structural change on the issue of ‘honour killings,’ SRED started a campaign in 2024 supported by their LFS2.0 grant. They contributed towards organising consultations in Chennai with feminist and Dalit human rights activists, academics, lawyers, and researchers on the need for a specialised law against ‘honour killing.’ The discussions – together with inputs from women from the community – were documented in the form of a detailed policy brief, published by the Tamil Nadu Dalit Women's Movement. 

SRED worked to socialise this policy brief with Dalit women, as well as other women and college and school students to raise awareness and shift attitudes. They also engaged with members of the state legislative assembly from a number of political parties, promoting the policy brief and advocating for the enactment of a specialised law such as

“In the name of Honor Killing atrocities Prevention Act – Tamil Nadu”

Their efforts contributed to discussions in the state legislature about whether or not the state should enact a specialised law addressing ‘honour killings.’ At the time, the Chief Minister contended that a specialised law was not required, that existing criminal laws were sufficient to tackle such crimes. After the killing of a Dalit man in July 2025 by his partner’s brother, civil society, including SRED and the Tamil Nadu Dalit Women's Movement, and a number of political parties renewed calls for the government to enact a specialised law on ‘honour killings.’ The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu then announced his government’s commitment to enact specialised legislation and to set up a commission to draft it.

SRED continues to inform communities about the announcement and keep the pressure on the government to enact strong legislation.

Tamil Nadu Government announced the formation of a commission on November 13,2025 headed by retired Madras High Court judge KN Basha and including legal experts, progressive thinkers, and anthropologists, to suggest measures to prevent honour killings in Tamil Nadu, with the government planning legislation based on its recommendations.

This Commission will obtain views from political movements, legal professionals, social activists, and affected individuals, and provide suitable recommendations on this subject.

Tamil Nadu Dalit women’s Movement met the commission lately on 17.02.2026 and submitted the booklet on Honor Killings emphasising to promote a legal frame work.