The Karnataka Assembly has passed the ‘Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition’ Bill 2026. Also called ‘Eva Nammavva’, the law that directly responds to a brutal pattern of honour killings and caste-based violence.
Law Minister HK Patil introduced the bill, calling it a step towards “social transformation or even revolution.” The phrase “Eva Nammava, Eva Nammava” in the bill draws from a 12th century vachana by philosopher Basavanna, meaning “He is ours,” signalling a moral argument for inclusion beyond caste lines.
A Tragic Case That Drove The Change
The urgency behind the new legislation comes from the case of Manya Vivekanad Doddamani, a Hubballi woman who was killed by her father in December 2025 for marrying outside her caste.
However, this incident was not an isolated one. A report by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties documented 13 honour-related attacks between 2022 and 2023, leading to 12 deaths. Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwara has also acknowledged 15 honour killings in the last five years.
Key Provisions: How the Law Plans to Protect Couples
At its core, the law affirms that consenting adults have the right to choose their partners, regardless of caste or community. It mandates that police and district authorities must respond within six hours if a couple reports threats. This includes providing shelter and security.
Each district will have safe houses where couples can stay for up to a year, depending on threat assessment. These spaces are meant to ensure privacy while also giving access to legal help.
The bill goes further by holding state officials accountable. If authorities fail to act on complaints, they can face departmental action, up to two years in prison, and fines. It also requires FIRs to be registered promptly and charge sheets to be filed within 60 days.
Special cells, helplines, and district-level committees called ‘Eva Nammava Vedike’ will work to prevent violence, counsel families, and facilitate marriages.
There is also a preventive angle. Districts with a history of honour crimes will be identified, and awareness campaigns will be carried out to shift social attitudes.
The Real Test: Can the Law Work on the Ground?
The new law clearly tries to fill gaps that general criminal law does not address. It focuses on prevention, protection and accountability in a way that existing provisions often do not.
The six-hour response rule, safe houses, and penalties for negligent officials are attempts to deal with the social nature of honour crimes and not just their criminal outcome.
At the same time, the questions raised by the opposition cannot be dismissed. If earlier laws have struggled due to weak enforcement, social pressure and hostile witnesses, will this law overcome those barriers or face the same fate?
Views expressed by the author are their own.
