Haryana panchayat to ban love marriages; propose social boycott

New Delhi: A social panchayat in Haryana’s Hisar district has passed a resolution opposing love marriages and proposed social boycotts for couples from the same village who marry against traditional social norms, according to a report by The Wire.

Around 1,000 residents attended the gathering in Arya Nagar village on September 20. The unelected body also proposed extending the boycott to family members of such couples and people who support love marriages. A committee will conduct a door-to-door campaign to gauge residents’ views on the proposed restrictions.

The move followed three recent marriages involving couples from the village. Two couples were from different castes, while the third belonged to the same caste. The social panchayat was chaired by village elder Kulwant Gosla.

Arya Nagar’s elected sarpanch, Rattan Singh, said the elected panchayat had no role in the decision, although he attended the social gathering.

Hisar Superintendent of Police Siddhant Jain said the matter would be examined and that police would ensure the safety and security of couples facing threats.

Legal experts have pointed out that consenting adults have a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution to choose their life partners. They have also said that social boycott orders issued by unelected panchayats have no legal validity and could invite criminal and statutory action.

The development has renewed concerns over coercion and violence against couples whose relationships face opposition from families or communities. A 2023 report analysing 24 caste-based honour-killing cases across Haryana and six other states found that victims frequently faced severe violence from relatives opposed to their relationships or marriages. Such crimes are also often recorded under broader offences, making the scale of honour-related violence difficult to establish.