Why honour killing still exists in India: Lata Singh speaks

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Lata Singh, rights activist and petitioner in the landmark 2006 Supreme Court judgment Lata Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh, reflects on her personal struggle, the continuing reality of honour killings, and the fragile state of the right to choice in India. Speaking in the aftermath of a recent honour killing in Maharashtra, Lata Singh recounts the violence, legal harassment, and years of displacement she faced after marrying outside her caste. She examines how, despite clear Supreme Court guidelines and subsequent judgments, inter-caste and inter-faith couples continue to face threats from families, caste groups, and even state institutions meant to protect them. She critiques the police’s persistent reliance on “social morality” over constitutional duty, the failure to implement safe houses and fast-track courts, and the absence of a separate law recognising honour killings as a distinct crime. Singh also explains how anti-conversion laws and procedural hurdles under the Special Marriage Act increasingly place consensual adult relationships under suspicion. Highlights: -Lata Singh’s personal journey and the significance of the 2006 Supreme Court judgment -Why honour killings persist despite repeated court guidelines -The police’s failure to protect inter-caste and inter-faith couples -How anti-conversion laws clash with Article 21 and the right to choice -The urgent need for safe houses, fast-track courts, and a separate law on honour killings -Why family honour continues to trump constitutional rights Perfect for viewers interested in: -The right to choice, marriage, and personal liberty -Honour killings and caste-based violence in India -Supreme Court judgments and their implementation on the ground -Inter-faith marriages, anti-conversion laws, and constitutional rights -Gender justice, civil liberties, and institutional accountability Credits: Host: Ashutosh Sharma Camera: Dipesh Arora Editing: Razal Pareed Producer: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online... #frontlineconversations #latasingh #honourkilling #righttochoice #intercastemarriage #interfaithmarriage #supremecourtofindia #article21 #civilrights #womensrights #constitutionalrights #anticonversionlaws #specialmarriageact #casteviolence #democracyandrights Follow us on: Facebook - / frontlineindia Twitter - / frontline_india Instagram - / frontline.magazine LinkedIn - / frontline-magazine-b12921295