Indian Supreme Court asks caste councils not to meddle in adult marriages

NEW DELHI, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- India's Supreme Court Monday cautioned caste councils against interfering in marriages between two consenting adults, making it clear that they are not the "conscience keepers of society."

"We can't say which marriage is null or void, which marriage is good or bad ... just stay out of it. Two persons marry ... they are adults ... you are no one to interfere in it," Indian Chief Justice Dipak Misra told the caste councils while hearing a case.

"Don't be the conscience-keepers of society," the chief justice added.

The apex court's observation came in the wake of a plea by a non-government organization, seeking a ban on caste councils and also guidelines to stop "honor killings."

This is the second time in the past one month that the court has slammed the caste councils. "If an adult man and woman marry, no khap, panchayat or society can question them," the court had said in the last hearing.

Caste councils - popularly called as "khap panchayats" in northern India -- are often blamed for approving or encouraging honor killings of young couples who marry outside of their caste or within their sub-caste. Enditem