The Karnataka Assembly on Monday passed an anti-hate crime bill called ‘Honour and Tradition’, establishing legal protections for adults who choose their partners and expanding the scope of punishable acts beyond physical violence.
The bill, titled Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Offenses as Honor and Traditions Bill, 2026, was approved by voice vote after a discussion in the state assembly.
Introducing the bill, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patel said it aims to counter social practices that lead to violence against spouses. “This is a bill that aims to bring about social change and, in a way, enable a social revolution,” he said.
According to the draft law, consent between two adults is sufficient for marriage and does not require the approval of families or communities.
“It is hereby declared that any two persons, who are eligible for marriage, are entitled to marry any person of their choice without any hindrance from any person, including the parents and family members of both the persons,” the bill said. “All people should have the right to independence in their lives, including the right to liberty, freedom of expression and the right to marry someone of their choice.”
While couples may choose to formally declare their consent before the district authority, the law makes clear that such a step is optional.
The legislation expands the definition of “crimes in the name of honor or tradition” to include social and economic retaliation. Actions such as forcing spouses or their families to leave their homes, preventing access to markets or places of worship, cutting off employment or trade opportunities, or preventing children from attending school are treated as crimes.
The law also criminalizes symbolic acts used to stigmatize spouses, including performing symbolic exoneration rituals against living individuals and coercing spouses to accept false family identities. The draft law stipulates that “anyone who causes death by any means or commits any act that leads to the death of a couple, one of them, or any person in the name of honor shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of not less than five years.”
Causing serious harm is punishable by imprisonment for at least three years in addition to fines that may extend to $3 lakh. It also prohibits gatherings of five or more people, which are organized to oppose marriage on caste or communal grounds, and participation in them is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years.
Under the draft law, the state must provide protection to spouses facing threats.
The legislation stipulates the following: “The police, upon receiving such a complaint or request for protection, shall provide protection and safety measures to the aforementioned persons immediately and not exceeding six hours…”
It also stipulates the establishment of safe houses across districts: “The State Government shall establish safe houses (safe houses) in every district headquarters for persons whose rights under Section 3 of the Act are at risk. Such safe houses shall provide adequate security to protect such couples with due regard to their privacy.”
Opposition members supported this intention, but questioned the effectiveness of the legislation. Leader of Opposition R Ashok said: “There are many honor killings happening in old Mysore region and the legislation being brought is a good development. But just introducing a bill is not enough. What is the alternative to the caste system? What is the punishment for those who commit murder? What is the real use of the law?”
Suresh Kumar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said, “The five-year prison sentence for those who commit honor killings is already in place in the new criminal code ‘Indian Code of Law’ (BNS).”
Responding to the criticism, Patel said the legislation introduces reporting and monitoring requirements by district authorities.
