The Supreme Court today came down heavily on honour killings in the country saying that those who resort to honour killings should face death penalty.

Describing the honour killings as a slur on the nation and a barbaric and feudal practice, a division of the court consisting of Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra said that courts must consider such killings as rarest of the rare category and award death penalty to the convicts. “It is time to stamp out such practices,” said the court.

Death penalty works as a deterrent for such outrageous, uncivilized behaviour and persons planning to commit honour killings must know that the gallows are awaiting them, said the court dismissing a petition filed by one Mr Bhagawan Dass.

Bhagawan Dass challenged the life imprisonment awarded to him by a Delhi Sessions Court for killing his daughter Seema as she was allegedly in a relationship with her cousin, despite being married.