Dismissing an appeal filed by four men sentenced to life imprisonment in a case of honour killing, the Delhi High Court observed that a major reason for ?rise in rape cases? was ?immature decisions? on the part of young adults, who indulge in physical relationships which may then break.
The court of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice Sunita Gupta also advised that parents should act ?in a sensible and mature manner with due patience, tolerance and understanding? to resolve issues arising from relationships of their children.
The court cautioned that boys and ?specially? girls ?have to be very careful and cautious before taking such an important decision concerning their lives before entering into the most sanctimonious relationship of marriage or even to have live-in relationship?.
?This places an implied onus on the shoulders of the persons involved in such relationships to act responsibly and maturely,? the court said.
?There are families where the children still give due respect to the wishes of their parents and relatives in the selection of their brides/bridegrooms, but in the last two decades and may be more than that, one can see revolutionary changes in the behaviour patterns of young children. The economic and social dynamics of society are changing very fast,? the judges observed.
The convicts, Ravi Kumar, Sanjay, Karamvir and Raj Kumar, had stabbed their 24-year-old neighbour Kuldeep in October 2006 as they did not approve of his affair with Ravi?s daughter.
?It is often noticed that any impetuous act to smother such relationships often has a backlash in the form of resentful feelings or even rebellious actions. Therefore, it is with great sensitivity that the parents need to acknowledge the growing independence of their children and rationally and dispassionately deal with these emotive issues giving due respect to their feelings,? the court said.