In the matter of Kowsalya v The State, Madras High Court directed Tamil Naidu Police to give permission to a person to conduct a public meeting in memory of her first husband, Sankar, who was hacked to death in 2016 in a case of 'honour killing'.

The Bench of Justice G Chandrasekharan directed the Police to allow her to conduct a meeting in Udumalpet Yesterday, on the Death anniversary of her first Husband.

Opposition Party opposed the idea and said that such a meeting might lead to law and order problems, but the High Court dismissed the State's apprehension.

"Considered the rival submissions and perused the records. The offence of honour killing takes place every now and then. It is not as though there is no honour killing taking place in Tamil Nadu and it is totally eradicated. It is not in dispute that the petitioner is a victim to honour killing, that her husband was murdered for the reason that he belongs to Scheduled Caste and the petitioner belongs to Most Backward Caste. Now, the scope of starting Sankar Social Justice Trust and organizing a present meeting is to disseminate information against honour killing and also to promote intercaste marriage. It is a laudable object and we cannot prevent/prohibit the meeting to be organized by Sankar Social Justice Trust on 12.03.2023," the High Court said.

Back History

Kousalya, an Engineering student from the Thevar community, married Shankar (her first husband). Shankar Belongs to the Dalit Family and on March 13, 2016, the couple got attacked n account of their inter-caste marriage.

Her husband died on the spot and she had some major injuries.

Advocates NGR Prasad and R Thirumoorthy appeared for Kowsalya, the petitioner. Government Advocate on the criminal side, S Santosh appeared for the respondent Tamil Nadu government.