‘Honour’ means stature and dignity, often intertwined with integrity, pride, and self-respect. It is a guiding principle that inspires individuals to act righteously and justly. However, this profound concept can transform sinister and destructive when taken to extremes. To protect what they refer to as their so-called “honour”, lives are needlessly lost, and families are torn apart. According to Human Rights Watch honour killing is defined as acts of violence, generally murder, done by male members mostly against female members who are thought to have brought shame to the family. The explanation for such crimes is presented as a method to “reinstate” the family’s status, but in reality, this violent ritual sacrifices human lives for the sake of their so-called honour. This barbaric practice has been practised for ages and sadly persists in India. According to the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 28 honour killing cases were reported in 2014, 192 in 2015, and 68 in 2016. But it is to be noted that these are just the cases that were reported, there might be hundreds of cases that might have gone unreported. The Supreme Court landmark ruling Shakti Vahini v. Union of India dated 27th March 2018 addresses the heinous practice of honour killings. The judgment maps out the roles of Police, District administrations, and State governments in preventing honour killing and protecting the potential victims, ensuring swift justice for these crimes. It lays down guidelines to safeguard individuals threatened and harassed by Khap Panchayats. Despite the Shakti Vahini judgment being a progressive improvement in preventing honour crimes, it mainly targets women. Although women are overwhelmingly the primary targets of honour killings that result from social and patriarchal demands, the judgment disregards the fact that men can be too be the victims of honour crimes. Thus, amid this pursuit of justice, a crucial narrative remains woefully neglected: the story of male victims of so-called honour crimes.
Honour Killings and stereotypes
There’s a particular stereotype associated with honour crimes, which is usually the image of a young woman being killed because she disobeyed the rules in choosing a partner. As this perception is based on the harsh reality, it conceals an equally grim reality. Men, too, are victims- often violently attacked, socially excluded, or even murdered for disobeying caste, communal, or family standards. Unfortunately, their stories rarely receive the same legal attention and empathy, creating a gap in our collective understanding and response to these crimes. Even while looking at the definition of honour killing given above, it only focuses on female victims and overlooks the plight of male victims. Over the years, culture has emphasised masculinity as a pillar of manhood, with men required to be strong, hard-coded, and authoritative. These stereotypical gender roles view men as defenders rather than victims; they cannot be victims, especially when it comes to advocating honour crimes, that are mostly known to target women. Due to shame and lack of support, many incidents of violence against men remain unreported. Hegemonic masculinity, the prevailing ideal in a patriarchal society, enforces inflexible gender norms that can emphasise power, domination, and control. While men are required to meet these norms, people from lower castes, minority groups, and marginalised identities are excluded, and thus labelled ‘inferior’. Young men who dare to marry outside their caste or religion are brutalized, beaten up, abused, or even killed. Shankar’s death in the Kausalya case from Tamil Nadu is an example of the brutal marginalization of lower-caste men who dare to marry outside their caste. Men also face violent retribution for eloping with women against the wishes of their families, especially the women’s families. Similarly, the murder of Devarakonda Harish Kumar who belonged to Telangana, serves as another grim example of honour-based violence. Harish was brutally killed for being in a relationship with a girl from another caste. Another case is of Pranay Perumalla who was brutally murdered in front of his wife, Amrutha. Amrutha’s father had ordered to kill Pranay because he was a Dalit, while Amrutha belonged to a wealthy upper caste family. The true number of males who have fallen prey to honour killings is probably far higher. Many cases are untouched because the reporting rate is abysmally low.
Supreme Court’s observations on male victims of honor crimes in Shakti Vahini judgment
The Supreme Court ruling Shakti Vahini v. Union of India makes a passing reference to how a young man can also be a victim of honour killing or receive violent threats. Still, this discussion is limited and not up to depth. The judgment talks about how several advisories are issued to the government from time to time to take steps needed to prevent crimes against women, but no such attention is given to males. The judgment also states that states like Haryana, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh have set up Crimes Against Women Cells and other similar measures to protect women. But it is to be noted that no such suggestion is made for men who are the victims of this heinous practice. For example, the State of Bihar has taken several reformative steps to uplift and empower women. To ensure women’s economic stability, they even have a scheme called the ‘National Saving Certificate’ which incentivises Rs. 25,000 to any woman who performs inter-caste marriage. Similarly, Delhi’s initiation of a Department of Women and Child Development demonstrates the rehabilitation program for female victims facing threats of honour killing. But why is there no incentive or any scheme for male victims? Honour killings, as per the NCRB, form a small but significant percentage of all homicides that occur in the country. While the statistics do not break down the victims by gender, reports indicate that males are commonly targeted if they belong to a lower caste or of a different religion than the wife. This dearth of precise gender-related data on honour killings marginalizes these male individuals. The lack of statistical data on male victims of honour killings represents a significant weakness in all the available research studies. Honour killing often regarded as a “crime against women” is rooted in the pride and honour associated with women. However, men can also be victims, particularly for engaging in forbidden romantic relationships, inter-caste or inter-faith marriages, or for breaking familial and societal boundaries. The lack of statistics identifying male victims keeps male victimisation off the radar and hidden from the legal and social discourses. This absence of recognition is unfortunate because it confines the capacity of policymakers to address the problem. In the absence of data, it becomes difficult to design measures or promulgate laws that respond to the needs of male victims. Besides this, it reinforces the patriarchal ideas in the society that “men cannot be the victims of honour crimes”.
Conclusion:
So-called honour crimes are criminal and reprehensible violations of human rights that stem from the toxic culture and strongly embedded structural gender-based violence. While enormous advancements have been made in addressing honour-based violence, the Indian legal system remains shackled by colonial-era principles that perpetuate stiff and set societal norms. The neglect of male victims is a fundamental gap in the discourse around honour murders. The lack of studies on male victimization limits scientific knowledge, capturing only the paradigmatic examples (and therefore creating stereotypes), while simultaneously limiting scientific knowledge and understanding of other (minority) groups. This exclusion, compounded by a lack of proof, proper reports, or statistics on male victims of honour crimes, creates an incomplete and skewed narrative. We may assume that male honour killings constitute only a small number because women are traditionally seen as bearing the burden of breaking the so-called “honour”. But what if this perceived small number is not a reflection of reality, but instead the result of significant underreporting? Male honour killings often go underreported due to the stigma attached to societal expectations of masculinity. This social stigma silences male victims and denies them a platform to seek help or get justice. Although the Shakti Vahini judgment and different states have reported a considerable extent of concern towards honour killings, their core concern is still confined to the female victims. Policies designed to combat the so-called honour crimes primarily focus on protecting women, which reflects the societal assumption that honour killings are “crimes against women”. This gendered manner of approaching the issue of abuse does not consider that men are also abused and they too can often be brutalized for defying caste, and religious boundaries. There is thus a need for a more gender-inclusive approach. The absence of data and research on male victimhood in honour murders contributes to an incomplete narrative. Furthermore, the lack of reporting creates a vicious cycle where male victims are excluded in the discussion on honour killings and such marginalisation reduces the chances of male victims reporting such incidents or even talking about it. This lack of visibility obstructs finding a solution to the problem of male honour crimes. With inadequate information, policymakers cannot effectively understand the gravity of the situation or even create gender-inclusive interventions.
Thus, there is a need for reformed laws where not just women, but men are too recognised as victims of honour killings. There is a need for legislation of honour crimes, that are gender-neutral and provide equal protection to everyone. There should be more preventive measures for male victims as there are for female victims, to ensure no one becomes a victim of honour killing. The government may also develop programs that provide male victims financial assistance or rehabilitation, similar to what is given to females. There is a need for large-scale campaigns to educate the public about male victimisation in honour crimes. Such campaigns would break the stereotype of masculinity and give men the confidence to address this issue without any stigma or being laughed at.
About the Author …
I am Shreya Gupta, a BBA LLB (Hons) student at OP Jindal Global University, with a strong passion for criminal and corporate law. With every law case, I study and every legal concept I uncover, I’m drawn deeper into understanding how laws influence society and business, and how they can be used as tools for justice and accountability. Beyond academics, I am curious, always seeking fresh perspectives and growth opportunities. I am an avid organizer, always eager to take on leadership roles in extracurricular activities. Whether organizing events or engaging in collaborative projects, I enjoy bringing people together to brainstorm ideas. My peers describe me as determined and dependable- someone who puts her all into academics and extracurricular activities. I aspire to excel academically and contribute meaningfully to the legal profession. With a balance of hard work, creativity, and curiosity, I look forward to making an impact wherever I go.
