Abstract
The current research has been carried out using documented case studies and content analysis methods. It reveals that family intolerance toward pre-marital relationships and autonomous marital decisions made by daughters—particularly in the context of inter-caste unions—often leads to incidents of honour killings. Such acts are frequently triggered by elopements or unauthorized love marriages, which tend to escalate tensions within the family. The findings also indicate that many honour killings occur as crimes of passion, provoked by sudden emotional reactions when couples are discovered in intimate situations by the girl’s family members. While fathers and brothers are commonly implicated, the involvement of mothers, uncles (both paternal and maternal), family acquaintances, and even hired assassins has also been documented. This trend is deeply rooted in a longstanding patriarchal mindset that resists the idea of women forming pre-marital relationships or choosing their own marriage partners. The prevalence of honour killings is further reinforced by community support and the inadequate enforcement of legal consequences, giving these crimes a degree of social and cultural acceptance. Thus, beyond enacting stringent laws and strict penalties, there is an urgent need to transform the rigid and prejudiced mindset of patriarchal societies, fostering greater tolerance for the matrimonial autonomy of women, particularly in cases of inter-caste and inter-religious marriages.
Keywords: Honour killings, Jats, Patriarchic society, Inter-caste, sexual relationships.
Introduction
Human beings are shaped not only by their social surroundings but also by psychological influences. Society’s norms and traditions are generally not seen as forced rules but rather as moral duties that individuals willingly accept. These socio-cultural norms deeply influence how people think and behave. From an early age, individuals learn ideas of right and wrong, moral and immoral, acceptable and forbidden, through socialization. These teachings determine how people see themselves and others in their social setting. Every society has certain behavioral expectations tied to gender, age, and social role, and violations of these expectations are often viewed as acts of dishonor. Responses to such violations vary widely, but in some communities, they can lead to severe punishments—including honour killings.
In societies where honour killings occur, such acts are driven by the belief that a woman’s actions—such as choosing her partner, engaging in relationships outside marriage, or even being seen with a man—can bring shame to her family. In these cases, male relatives sometimes kill the women involved, or their partners, as a way to restore lost “honour.” The practice is often seen not just as an individual act of violence, but as a culturally accepted, collective reaction aimed at preserving social status.