#Karnataka : Assembly Passes Two Bills – Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026

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The Karnataka Assembly has passed two key bills, including the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026, with the government asserting that both measures aim at social reform and preservation of heritage.

Moving the marriage-related Bill, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the bill was intended to address social issues such as honour crimes and to reinforce constitutional values in society.

The bill also intends to provide legal safeguards, remedies, and institutional mechanisms for prevention, redressal, and rehabilitation.

Key Provisions of the Marriage Freedom Bill

As per the Bill, without prejudice to the punishment provided under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, whoever causes death through any means or commits any such act that results in the death of a couple or either of them or any person in the name of ‘honour’ shall be punished with minimum imprisonment for a term of five years.

The Bill has been named ‘Eva Nammava’ (he is one among us), after the famous Vachana by 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, which has come in the backdrop of the alleged killing of a young pregnant woman in her early twenties near Hubballi by her own family in December, over inter- caste marriage, which had created outrage.

Whoever causes grievous hurt to a couple or either of them in the name of honour shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years and with fine which may extend to three lakh rupees.

For causing simple hurt, the punishment will be rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years, but which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees.

“This is a Bill aimed at bringing social change and, in a way, enabling a social revolution,” the Minister said.

He noted that values of equality and inclusivity had long been articulated in Indian philosophical traditions but had not translated into practice.

“We have accepted these as social values, but they have not truly entered our lives-they have remained only as subjects of speeches,” he