Overview
- The state brought the Eva Nammava Eva Nammava Act into force after the Governor approved it, creating a dedicated legal framework to curb caste‑motivated coercion around inter‑caste marriages.
- Offences under the law are cognisable and non‑bailable, which lets police arrest without a court order and limits routine release on bail.
- Punishments now include a minimum five‑year prison term for killings in the name of caste honour, with three years for assaults causing serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
- Threats and social pressure are also criminalized, with three to five years in prison for intimidation of couples and six months to five years for group intimidation.
- The Act defines social boycott as crimes such as forcing couples out of villages or denying services, jobs, business, loans, or school admissions, and it requires district safe houses with security and access to lawyers and NGOs.