Bengaluru, March 18 (NationPress) The Karnataka government has introduced the “Iva Nammava Iva Nammava (He is ours, he is ours) Bill in the Assembly on Wednesday. This legislation seeks to combat “honour killings” and violence stemming from caste-based objections to inter-caste or inter-community marriages.

This initiative comes in response to an alarming increase in violence related to inter-caste unions, notably following the tragic murder of a pregnant woman, Manya Patil, by her father and relatives in Hubballi due to her marriage to a member of the Scheduled Caste.

The proposed law assures consenting adults the freedom to marry, shielding them from familial or community pressure, with strict consequences — including a minimum of five years in prison — for violators.

The Bill was presented in the Legislative Assembly by the State Minister for IT, BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR). It is slated for further discussion.

The title of the Bill is inspired by a 12th-century Kannada vachana (philosophical verse) from social reformer Basavanna, meaning “He is ours, he is ours,” which advocates for equality and opposes discrimination.

The legislation mandates the establishment of 24-hour helplines and safe houses for couples facing threats from their families or communities. It broadens the definition of “honour crimes” to encompass not just murder, but also physical assault, forced marriages/divorces, social ostracism, and performing “thithi (death rituals)” for couples who are still alive.

Crimes under this Bill are classified as cognizable and non-bailable, with severe penalties, including life imprisonment for certain violent actions.

This legislation aims to empower individuals, particularly those in inter-caste, inter-community, or inter-religious relationships, to select their partners without the threat of violence.

It is important to recall that Manya Patil was brutally murdered in December 2025 in Hubballi taluk, allegedly by her father and relatives, for marrying a Dalit. Law enforcement apprehended her father and two others in connection with this case.

According to police reports, Manya Patil, a Lingayat, and her husband Vivekananda, a Dalit, both hailed from the same village. Their love blossomed during their graduation years, initially connecting through Instagram before formalizing their relationship. They were married on June 19, 2025, at the registrar's office in Hubballi.

Initial investigations indicated that Manya had previously threatened to take her own life if Vivekananda did not marry her. Following their marriage, police intervened to mediate between both families, and the couple relocated to Haveri. They returned to their village on December 8, 2025, under the assumption that their relationship would be accepted since Manya was pregnant.

However, tensions re-emerged between the families. The Hubballi Rural police again called both families, advising the elders to maintain peace. Despite this, Manya Patil’s father and relatives reportedly invaded her home and fatally attacked her.