📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / AmitKankar
Religion
Haryana Khap Row: Women’s Wing Backs Naugama Ban on Same‑Village Love Marriages
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 25 Aug 2026, 07:03 PM
👁 4
The women’s wing of a local khap has endorsed a ban on love marriages within the same village of Naugama in Haryana, intensifying an ongoing community dispute.
The women’s wing of a prominent khap in Haryana has publicly backed a proposal to prohibit love marriages between residents of the same village, specifically targeting Naugama. The move is part of a broader row within the khap that pits traditional community norms against individual marital choices.
According to statements released by the women’s wing, the ban aims to preserve what they describe as “social cohesion” and prevent intra‑village disputes that often arise from such unions. The proposal does not extend to inter‑village marriages, which the khap continues to monitor closely.
Legal experts have warned that enforcing a ban on consensual adult marriages could contravene constitutional rights, while local activists argue that the measure reflects deep‑seated patriarchal attitudes. The state government has not yet taken an official stance, but the issue is expected to surface in upcoming discussions on marriage laws in Haryana.
The endorsement by the women’s wing has sparked mixed reactions within the community, with some members praising the effort to maintain traditional values, while others view it as an intrusion into personal freedoms. The controversy underscores the ongoing tension between customary khap rulings and modern legal frameworks in the region.
According to statements released by the women’s wing, the ban aims to preserve what they describe as “social cohesion” and prevent intra‑village disputes that often arise from such unions. The proposal does not extend to inter‑village marriages, which the khap continues to monitor closely.
Legal experts have warned that enforcing a ban on consensual adult marriages could contravene constitutional rights, while local activists argue that the measure reflects deep‑seated patriarchal attitudes. The state government has not yet taken an official stance, but the issue is expected to surface in upcoming discussions on marriage laws in Haryana.
The endorsement by the women’s wing has sparked mixed reactions within the community, with some members praising the effort to maintain traditional values, while others view it as an intrusion into personal freedoms. The controversy underscores the ongoing tension between customary khap rulings and modern legal frameworks in the region.