‭Jasmine Tiwari JGU ID: 22010392 Class: B.B.A. LL.

B A Course: Family Law I Assignment: Research Proposal‬

‭“Complexities of Inter-caste Marriages: Stigma, Familial Opposition and Legal Implications”‬

‭A Comprehensive Analysis in the Context of Family Law‬

‭I.‬ ‭INTRODUCTION‬

‭ he‬ ‭caste‬ ‭system‬ ‭in‬ ‭India‬ ‭has‬ ‭historically‬ ‭fostered‬ ‭the‬ ‭practice‬ ‭of‬ ‭endogamy,‬ ‭which‬ ‭entails‬ ‭people‬ ‭being‬
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‭culturally‬ ‭obliged‬ ‭to‬ ‭enter‬ ‭marital‬ ‭unions‬ ‭only‬ ‭within‬ ‭their‬ ‭own‬ ‭caste.‬ ‭The‬ ‭caste‬ ‭system‬ ‭has‬ ‭been‬ ‭firmly‬
‭embedded‬ ‭into‬ ‭the‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭fabric‬ ‭of‬ ‭India‬ ‭and‬‭often‬‭gives‬‭rise‬‭to‬‭resistance‬‭and‬‭censure‬‭within‬‭society.‬‭In‬
‭rural‬ ‭regions,‬ ‭arranged‬ ‭marriages‬ ‭place‬ ‭significant‬ ‭emphasis‬ ‭on‬ ‭caste‬ ‭compatibility‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭key‬ ‭determinant.‬
‭Inter-caste‬‭marriages‬‭have‬‭the‬‭potential‬‭to‬‭destabilise‬‭established‬‭social‬‭hierarchies‬‭but‬‭often,‬‭such‬‭marriages‬
‭lead‬ ‭to‬ ‭instances‬ ‭of‬ ‭abuse,‬ ‭violence,‬ ‭and‬ ‭acts‬ ‭of‬ ‭honour‬ ‭killings.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Hindu‬ ‭Marriage‬ ‭Act,‬ ‭1955‬ ‭remains‬
‭silent‬‭on‬‭inclusion‬‭of‬‭castes‬‭outside‬‭the‬‭Varna‬‭System.‬‭The‬‭Special‬‭Marriage‬‭Act,‬‭1954‬‭have‬‭been‬‭enacted‬‭in‬
‭India‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭aim‬ ‭of‬ ‭legitimising‬ ‭marriages‬ ‭that‬ ‭surpass‬ ‭caste‬ ‭and‬ ‭religious‬ ‭limitations,‬ ‭as‬ ‭well‬ ‭as‬
‭streamlining‬‭divorce‬‭procedures.‬‭The‬‭Special‬‭Marriage‬‭Act,‬‭1954‬‭established‬‭a‬‭legal‬‭framework‬‭to‬‭facilitate‬
‭civil‬ ‭matrimonial‬ ‭unions‬ ‭between‬ ‭individuals‬ ‭from‬ ‭different‬ ‭castes‬ ‭and‬ ‭religions‬ ‭but‬ ‭stipulates‬ ‭a‬ ‭30-day‬
‭notice‬‭period.‬‭Couples‬‭often‬‭encounter‬‭opposition‬‭from‬‭cultural‬‭and‬‭familial‬‭sources.‬‭The‬‭influence‬‭of‬‭caste‬
‭on‬‭matrimonial‬‭customs‬‭is‬‭waning‬‭in‬‭urban‬‭environments‬‭and‬‭among‬‭persons‬‭with‬‭high‬‭levels‬‭of‬‭education.‬
‭The‬ ‭younger‬ ‭persons‬ ‭are‬ ‭placing‬ ‭more‬ ‭emphasis‬ ‭on‬ ‭factors‬ ‭like‬ ‭compatibility,‬ ‭love,‬‭and‬‭shared‬‭principles‬
‭when‬ ‭making‬ ‭decisions‬ ‭about‬ ‭relationships,‬ ‭rather‬ ‭than‬ ‭giving‬ ‭precedence‬ ‭to‬ ‭concerns‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭caste.‬
‭Notwithstanding‬‭these‬‭obstacles,‬‭there‬‭has‬‭been‬‭a‬‭notable‬‭rise‬‭in‬‭inter-caste‬‭marriages,‬‭especially‬‭among‬‭the‬
‭younger‬‭persons.‬‭Inter-caste‬‭marriages‬‭actively‬‭contest‬‭traditional‬‭caste‬‭norms‬‭and‬‭function‬‭as‬‭catalysts‬‭for‬
‭social‬‭change.‬‭Legislative‬‭measures‬‭such‬‭as‬‭the‬‭Prevention‬‭of‬‭Crimes‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Name‬‭of‬‭Honour‬‭and‬‭Tradition‬
‭Bill,‬‭2010,‬‭upon‬‭being‬‭enacted,‬‭have‬‭the‬‭potential‬‭to‬‭contest‬‭traditional‬‭caste‬‭norms‬‭and‬‭function‬‭as‬‭catalysts‬
‭for social change.‬

‭II.‬ ‭SUMMARY OF ACADEMIC ARTICLES‬

‭“Marry for What? Caste and Mate Selection in Modern India”‬‭1‬

‭ his‬‭study‬‭examines‬‭the‬‭influence‬‭of‬‭caste‬‭on‬‭the‬‭equilibrium‬‭dynamics‬‭of‬‭matching‬‭in‬‭arranged‬‭marriages‬
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‭among‬ ‭the‬ ‭middle-class‬ ‭population‬ ‭in‬ ‭India.‬ ‭The‬ ‭researchers‬ ‭provide‬ ‭a‬ ‭theoretical‬ ‭framework‬ ‭aimed‬ ‭at‬
‭elucidating‬ ‭the‬ ‭enduring‬ ‭prevalence‬ ‭of‬ ‭caste-based‬ ‭assortative‬‭matching‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Indian‬‭matrimonial‬‭market.‬
‭Their‬‭hypothesis‬‭posits‬‭that‬‭caste‬‭preferences‬‭mostly‬‭manifest‬‭in‬‭a‬‭horizontal‬‭manner‬‭(intra-caste‬‭marriages).‬
‭The‬‭research‬‭uses‬‭the‬‭Gale-Shapley‬‭algorithm‬‭to‬‭construct‬‭stable‬‭matches‬‭based‬‭on‬‭individuals'‬‭preferences‬
‭and‬ ‭then‬ ‭compares‬ ‭these‬ ‭matches‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬‭actual‬‭outcomes.‬‭The‬‭findings‬‭suggest‬‭a‬‭significant‬‭decrease‬‭in‬
‭the‬‭proportion‬‭of‬‭marriages‬‭within‬‭the‬‭same‬‭caste,‬‭indicating‬‭that‬‭caste‬‭has‬‭independent‬‭significance‬‭rather‬
‭than‬‭just‬‭serving‬‭as‬‭a‬‭substitute‬‭for‬‭other‬‭attributes‬‭that‬‭families‬‭prioritise.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭observed‬‭that‬‭families‬‭have‬‭a‬
‭higher‬ ‭propensity‬ ‭to‬ ‭engage‬ ‭in‬ ‭written‬ ‭communication‬ ‭and‬ ‭subsequent‬ ‭correspondence‬ ‭with‬ ‭individuals‬
‭belonging‬ ‭to‬ ‭their‬ ‭own‬ ‭caste.‬ ‭Parents‬ ‭of‬ ‭potential‬ ‭grooms‬ ‭or‬ ‭brides‬ ‭show‬ ‭a‬ ‭strong‬ ‭inclination‬ ‭to‬ ‭make‬
‭significant‬‭sacrifices‬‭to‬‭secure‬‭a‬‭marital‬‭union‬‭within‬‭their‬‭caste.‬‭Approximately‬‭30%‬‭of‬‭individuals‬‭within‬
‭the‬ ‭surveyed‬ ‭population‬ ‭choose‬ ‭not‬ ‭to‬‭enter‬‭matrimonial‬‭unions‬‭within‬‭their‬‭own‬‭caste,‬‭mostly‬‭because‬‭of‬
‭the presence of diverse caste preferences.‬

‭“Law Commission on Crimes and Killing in the Name of "Honour" - A Myopic and Patriarchal Vision”‬‭2‬

‭ he‬ ‭Law‬ ‭Commission‬‭Report‬‭examines‬‭the‬‭cases‬‭of‬‭Honour‬‭Killings‬‭in‬‭India,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭specific‬‭emphasis‬‭on‬

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‭its‬ ‭pervasiveness‬ ‭in‬ ‭both‬ ‭societal‬ ‭and‬ ‭governmental‬ ‭contexts.‬ ‭The‬ ‭paper‬ ‭presents‬‭a‬‭preliminary‬‭legislative‬
‭1‬
‭Banerjee, Abhijit, et al. “Marry for What? Caste‬‭and Mate Selection in Modern India.” American Economic Journal:‬
‭Microeconomics, vol. 5, no. 2, 2013, pp. 33–72. JSTOR,‬‭http://www.jstor.org/stable/43189920‬‭.‬
‭2‬
‭Law Commission on Crimes and Killing in the Name‬‭of "Honour" - A Myopic and Patriarchal Vision, 6.2 JILS (2014-15) 63‬
‭https://www.scconline.com/Members/SearchResult.aspx‬
f‭ ramework‬ ‭aimed‬ ‭at‬ ‭tackling‬ ‭the‬‭issue‬‭of‬‭khap‬‭panchayats,‬‭which‬‭impose‬‭penalties‬‭on‬‭young‬‭couples‬‭who‬
‭choose‬ ‭to‬ ‭marry‬ ‭or‬ ‭engage‬ ‭in‬ ‭inter-caste‬ ‭relationships.‬ ‭The‬‭paper‬‭elucidates‬‭the‬‭constraints‬‭faced‬‭by‬‭adult‬
‭females‬ ‭in‬ ‭exercising‬ ‭their‬ ‭agency‬ ‭to‬ ‭choose‬ ‭life‬ ‭mates‬ ‭and‬ ‭enjoy‬ ‭unrestricted‬ ‭mobility,‬‭which‬‭arise‬‭from‬
‭caste‬‭and‬‭religious‬‭considerations.‬‭The‬‭existing‬‭legal‬‭framework‬‭exhibits‬‭a‬‭deficiency‬‭in‬‭its‬‭provisions‬‭that‬
‭would‬‭substantiate‬‭the‬‭justification‬‭of‬‭honour‬‭killings‬‭via‬‭various‬‭defences.‬‭Furthermore,‬‭it‬‭lacks‬‭legislation‬
‭that‬ ‭specifically‬ ‭addresses‬ ‭the‬ ‭proper‬ ‭legal‬ ‭measures‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭taken‬ ‭in‬ ‭response‬ ‭to‬ ‭crimes‬ ‭perpetrated‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬
‭name‬ ‭of‬ ‭honour.‬ ‭The‬ ‭research‬ ‭furthermore‬ ‭advocates‬ ‭for‬‭the‬‭establishment‬‭of‬‭a‬‭legislative‬‭framework‬‭that‬
‭acknowledges‬‭and‬‭restricts‬‭the‬‭participation‬‭of‬‭familial‬‭individuals‬‭in‬‭such‬‭illicit‬‭endeavours.‬‭The‬‭draft‬‭law‬
‭has‬‭been‬‭sent‬‭by‬‭the‬‭Indian‬‭government‬‭to‬‭all‬‭states,‬‭soliciting‬‭comment.‬‭The‬‭current‬‭solutions‬‭demonstrate‬
‭inherent‬ ‭shortcomings‬ ‭and‬ ‭prejudices,‬ ‭sustaining‬ ‭the‬‭division‬‭between‬‭the‬‭"public"‬‭and‬‭"private"‬‭domains.‬
‭Consequently,‬ ‭this‬ ‭perpetuates‬ ‭a‬ ‭continuous‬ ‭condition‬ ‭of‬ ‭female‬ ‭victimisation‬ ‭without‬ ‭any‬‭means‬‭of‬‭legal‬
‭redress. The research emphasises instances of violence perpetrated against adolescent females.‬

‭“The Inextricable Linkage Between Caste and Patriarchy: Inequality in Granting Caste Certificates to‬
‭SC/ST Children”‬‭3‬

I‭ nter-caste‬‭marriages‬‭in‬‭India‬‭are‬‭affected‬‭by‬‭patriarchal‬‭norms,‬‭which‬‭in‬‭turn‬‭contribute‬‭to‬‭the‬‭perpetuation‬
‭of‬ ‭gender‬ ‭roles‬ ‭and‬ ‭economic‬ ‭inequality.‬ ‭Despite‬ ‭ongoing‬ ‭initiatives‬ ‭aimed‬ ‭at‬ ‭promoting‬ ‭inter-caste‬
‭marriages,‬ ‭the‬ ‭implementation‬ ‭of‬ ‭regulations‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭respect‬ ‭continues‬ ‭to‬ ‭exhibit‬ ‭inconsistencies.‬
‭Specifically,‬ ‭a‬ ‭prevailing‬ ‭pattern‬ ‭persists‬ ‭whereby‬ ‭children‬ ‭mostly‬‭receive‬‭their‬‭caste‬‭affiliation‬‭from‬‭their‬
‭fathers,‬‭hence‬‭neglecting‬‭the‬‭caste‬‭identity‬‭of‬‭their‬‭mothers.‬‭This‬‭matter‬‭gets‬‭very‬‭complex‬‭when‬‭the‬‭mother‬
‭belongs‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭SC‬‭or‬‭ST,‬‭since‬‭it‬‭results‬‭in‬‭the‬‭denial‬‭of‬‭the‬‭tribal‬‭or‬‭caste‬‭identity‬‭linked‬‭to‬‭the‬‭mother.‬‭The‬
‭Supreme‬ ‭Court's‬ ‭examination‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭uncommon‬ ‭circumstances‬‭in‬‭which‬‭a‬‭child‬‭may‬‭inherit‬‭their‬‭mother's‬
‭caste‬ ‭has‬ ‭shown‬ ‭inconsistency‬ ‭and‬ ‭inadequacy.‬ ‭The‬ ‭matter‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭caste‬ ‭status‬ ‭of‬ ‭children‬ ‭born‬ ‭from‬
‭inter-caste‬‭marriages‬‭has‬‭been‬‭a‬‭subject‬‭of‬‭contention‬‭in‬‭India.‬‭In‬‭the‬‭case‬‭of‬‭Rameshbhai‬‭Dabhai‬‭Naika‬‭v.‬
‭State‬‭of‬‭Gujarat,‬‭the‬‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭ruled‬‭that‬‭the‬‭assumption‬‭of‬‭children‬‭inheriting‬‭the‬‭caste‬‭of‬‭their‬‭father‬
‭is‬‭neither‬‭definitive‬‭nor‬‭unchallengeable.‬‭The‬‭assessment‬‭of‬‭a‬‭child's‬‭caste‬‭in‬‭cases‬‭where‬‭inter-caste‬‭parents‬
‭have‬ ‭split‬ ‭is‬ ‭influenced‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭examination‬ ‭of‬ ‭their‬ ‭upbringing‬ ‭(justified‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭context‬ ‭of‬ ‭inter-caste‬
‭marriages,‬‭since‬‭it‬‭has‬‭the‬‭potential‬‭to‬‭lead‬‭to‬‭the‬‭inclusion‬‭of‬‭children‬‭who‬‭have‬‭not‬‭experienced‬‭any‬‭kind‬‭of‬
‭hardship).‬ ‭However,‬ ‭there‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭lack‬ ‭of‬ ‭consistency‬ ‭across‬ ‭courts‬ ‭in‬ ‭their‬ ‭interpretation‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭criteria‬ ‭for‬
‭determining‬ ‭the‬ ‭level‬ ‭of‬ ‭“acceptance‬ ‭of‬ ‭community”.‬ ‭The‬ ‭differentiation‬ ‭of‬ ‭SC/ST‬ ‭male‬ ‭and‬ ‭a‬ ‭SC/ST‬
‭woman‬‭in‬‭a‬‭matrimonial‬‭union‬‭with‬‭a‬‭spouse‬‭belonging‬‭to‬‭a‬‭"forward‬‭class"‬‭does‬‭not‬‭meet‬‭the‬‭criteria‬‭of‬‭an‬
‭"intelligible‬‭differentia"‬‭to‬‭justify‬‭the‬‭implementation‬‭of‬‭significantly‬‭disparate‬‭procedures‬‭in‬‭the‬‭issuance‬‭of‬
‭caste‬ ‭certificates.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Supreme‬ ‭Court‬ ‭has‬ ‭developed‬ ‭other‬‭criteria‬‭in‬‭addition‬‭to‬‭the‬‭formal‬‭categorization‬
‭test,‬ ‭as‬ ‭shown‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭case‬ ‭of‬ ‭Indian‬ ‭Young‬ ‭Lawyers‬ ‭Assn.‬ ‭v.‬ ‭State‬ ‭of‬‭Kerala.‬‭This‬‭case‬‭demonstrates‬‭the‬
‭Court's‬ ‭commitment‬ ‭to‬ ‭ensuring‬ ‭equitable‬ ‭treatment‬ ‭for‬ ‭all‬ ‭individuals.The‬ ‭authors‬ ‭propose‬ ‭the‬
‭implementation‬‭assessments‬‭to‬‭determine‬‭the‬‭caste‬‭of‬‭a‬‭child‬‭resulting‬‭from‬‭a‬‭marriage‬‭between‬‭individuals‬
‭from different castes.‬

‭“A CROSS-NATIONAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF INTERCASTE MARRIAGE ON FERTILITY IN‬

‭INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES.”‬‭4‬

‭ his‬ ‭research‬ ‭investigates‬ ‭the‬ ‭influence‬ ‭of‬ ‭inter-caste‬ ‭marriages‬ ‭on‬ ‭fertility‬ ‭rates‬ ‭in‬ ‭India‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭United‬
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‭States,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭specific‬‭emphasis‬‭on‬‭marriages‬‭between‬‭high‬‭and‬‭low‬‭castes,‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭individuals‬‭from‬‭white‬
‭and‬ ‭black‬ ‭ethnic‬ ‭origins.‬ ‭The‬ ‭findings‬ ‭indicate‬ ‭a‬ ‭significant‬ ‭decline‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭population‬ ‭of‬ ‭children‬ ‭in‬ ‭both‬
‭nations.‬‭Marital‬‭unions‬‭characterised‬‭by‬‭the‬‭marriage‬‭of‬‭high‬‭caste‬‭males‬‭and‬‭low‬‭caste‬‭females‬‭tend‬‭to‬‭have‬
‭a‬‭greater‬‭propensity‬‭for‬‭producing‬‭a‬‭larger‬‭progeny‬‭count‬‭when‬‭contrasted‬‭with‬‭unions‬‭involving‬‭high‬‭caste‬
‭females‬ ‭and‬ ‭low‬ ‭caste‬ ‭males.‬ ‭Several‬ ‭factors‬ ‭(including‬ ‭age‬ ‭gap,‬ ‭educational‬ ‭achievement,‬ ‭rural‬‭or‬‭urban‬

‭3‬
‭The Inextricable Linkage Between Caste and Patriarchy‬‭: Inequality in Granting Caste Certificates to SC/ST Children, 6.1 CALJ‬
‭(2021) 117‬‭https://www.scconline.com/Members/SearchResult.aspx‬
‭4‬
‭DAS, MAN SINGH. “A CROSS-NATIONAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT‬‭OF INTERCASTE MARRIAGE ON FERTILITY IN‬
‭INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES.” International Journal of Sociology of the Family, vol. 8, no. 2, 1978, pp. 145–57. JSTOR,‬
‭http://www.jstor.org/stable/23028524‬‭..‬
b‭ ackground,‬ ‭issues‬ ‭related‬ ‭to‬ ‭caste‬ ‭and‬ ‭racial‬ ‭prejudice,‬ ‭as‬ ‭well‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭prevailing‬ ‭attitudes‬ ‭towards‬ ‭the‬
‭acceptance‬ ‭of‬ ‭children‬ ‭within‬ ‭both‬ ‭the‬ ‭family‬ ‭and‬ ‭community)‬ ‭have‬‭been‬‭identified‬‭as‬‭contributing‬‭to‬‭the‬
‭observed‬‭reduction.‬‭Fertility‬‭rates‬‭among‬‭inter-caste‬‭married‬‭couples‬‭in‬‭both‬‭India‬‭and‬‭the‬‭United‬‭States‬‭are‬
‭comparatively‬ ‭lower‬ ‭when‬ ‭compared‬ ‭to‬ ‭intra-married‬ ‭couples.‬ ‭Inter-caste‬ ‭marriages‬ ‭are‬ ‭often‬ ‭met‬ ‭with‬
‭opposition‬ ‭from‬ ‭parents‬ ‭belonging‬ ‭to‬ ‭higher‬ ‭castes,‬ ‭resulting‬ ‭in‬ ‭a‬ ‭postponement‬‭of‬‭the‬‭commencement‬‭of‬
‭parenting.‬

‭“Legal Reforms in Inter-caste Marriages”‬‭5‬

‭ he‬ ‭prevalence‬ ‭of‬ ‭inter-caste‬‭marriages‬‭has‬‭increased‬‭as‬‭a‬‭result‬‭of‬‭educational‬‭advancements‬‭and‬‭societal‬

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‭modernization,‬ ‭however,‬ ‭honour‬ ‭killings‬‭remain‬‭a‬‭serious‬‭concern.‬‭Collection‬‭of‬‭data‬‭pertaining‬‭to‬‭honour‬
‭murders‬‭is‬‭carried‬‭out‬‭by‬‭the‬‭National‬‭Crime‬‭Records‬‭Bureau‬‭encompasses‬‭a‬‭range‬‭of‬‭violent‬‭acts,‬‭such‬‭as‬
‭illegal‬ ‭imprisonment,‬ ‭physical‬ ‭assault,‬ ‭acid‬ ‭attacks,‬ ‭humiliation,‬ ‭torture,‬ ‭and‬ ‭exploitation.‬ ‭The‬ ‭author‬
‭advocates‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭government‬ ‭and‬ ‭law‬ ‭enforcement‬ ‭agencies‬ ‭to‬ ‭take‬ ‭proactive‬‭measures‬‭in‬‭preventing‬‭the‬
‭harassment,‬ ‭threats,‬ ‭and‬ ‭acts‬ ‭of‬ ‭violence‬ ‭against‬ ‭inter-caste‬ ‭couples‬ ‭while‬ ‭laying‬ ‭emphasis‬ ‭on‬ ‭Universal‬
‭Declaration‬‭of‬‭Human‬‭Rights‬‭(UDHR‬‭1948)‬‭which‬‭establishes‬‭that‬‭the‬‭fundamental‬‭idea‬‭that‬‭discrimination‬
‭and‬ ‭unfairness‬ ‭are‬ ‭unacceptable,‬ ‭and‬‭explicitly‬‭declares‬‭that‬‭discrimination‬‭based‬‭on‬‭factors‬‭such‬‭as‬‭caste,‬
‭colour, sex, religion, and others constitute a violation of human rights.‬

‭“INTER-CASTE MARRIAGE - ITS IMPACT IN THE SOCIETY”‬‭6‬

‭ rominent‬ ‭court‬ ‭judgements‬ ‭in‬‭India‬‭have‬‭underscored‬‭the‬‭significance‬‭of‬‭caste‬‭in‬‭the‬‭process‬‭of‬‭marriage‬

P
‭selection,‬‭enabling‬‭individuals‬‭to‬‭exercise‬‭their‬‭autonomy‬‭in‬‭choosing‬‭a‬‭life‬‭mate,‬‭irrespective‬‭of‬‭caste-based‬
‭factors.‬‭Furthermore,‬‭these‬‭judgements‬‭emphasise‬‭the‬‭need‬‭for‬‭the‬‭state‬‭to‬‭ensure‬‭the‬‭safeguarding‬‭of‬‭these‬
‭couples.‬‭This‬‭paper‬‭investigates‬‭the‬‭political‬‭viability‬‭of‬‭inter-caste‬‭marriage‬‭as‬‭a‬‭strategy‬‭for‬‭attaining‬‭social‬
‭equality,‬‭drawing‬‭upon‬‭the‬‭anti-caste‬‭ideology‬‭advocated‬‭by‬‭B.R.‬‭Ambedkar.‬‭The‬‭legal‬‭acknowledgment‬‭of‬
‭inter-caste marriages is mostly shaped by existing conventions and traditions.‬

‭III.‬ ‭RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES‬

‭1.‬ W ‭ hat‬‭is‬‭the‬‭social‬‭stigmatisation‬‭associated‬‭with‬‭inter-caste‬‭marriages‬‭in‬‭India‬‭and‬‭its‬‭repercussions‬
‭on both the couples involved and their respective families and are the coping mechanisms used?‬
‭2.‬ ‭What are the common legal issues pertaining to inter-caste marriages?‬
‭3.‬ ‭What type of atrocities, as a result of inter-caste unions, are covered by the media the most?‬
‭4.‬ ‭This study aims to:‬
‭a.‬ ‭Analyse‬‭the‬‭legal‬‭framework‬‭pertaining‬‭to‬‭inter-caste‬‭marriages,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭specific‬‭emphasis‬‭on‬
‭the existing legislation, protective measures, and associated obstacles.‬
‭b.‬ ‭Examine‬‭the‬‭many‬‭elements,‬‭such‬‭as‬‭cultural,‬‭social,‬‭and‬‭economic,‬‭that‬‭contribute‬‭to‬‭family‬
‭resistance towards inter-caste marriages.‬
‭c.‬ ‭Provide‬ ‭suggestions‬ ‭for‬ ‭enhancing‬ ‭social‬ ‭acceptability,‬ ‭mitigating‬ ‭stigma,‬ ‭and‬ ‭streamlining‬
‭the legal procedures surrounding inter-caste marriages.‬

‭IV.‬ ‭METHODOLOGY‬

‭LITERATURE AND LAW REVIEW‬

‭1.‬ ‭ econdary Data‬

S
‭1.1.‬ ‭National Helpdesk for Prevention of Atrocities‬‭7‬
‭1.1.1.‬ ‭Number of Couples provided incentive for inter-caste marriage.‬

‭5‬
‭Singh, M., and Sharan, A. “LEGAL REFORMS IN INTERCASTE‬‭MARRIAGES” Family Law, Manupatra Articles, 2021, pp.,‬
‭1-8. Manupatra.‬ ‭https://articles.manupatra.com/article-details/Legal-Reforms-in-Intercaste-Marriages‬
‭6‬
‭Sowndarya, S. P., and B. Giridharan. "Inter-Caste‬‭Marriage - Its Impact in the Society." Law Essentials Journal, vol. 2, no. 1,‬
‭2021, pp. 34-41. HeinOnline,‬‭https://heinonline-org.opj.remotlog.com/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/lwesj2&i=34‬‭.‬
‭7‬
‭StateWise-Report | National Helpdesk for Prevention of Atrocities. (n.d.).‬‭https://nhapoa.gov.in/en/cms/statewise-reports‬
 1‭ .1.2.‬ ‭Number of atrocity victims provided relief.‬
‭1.1.3.‬ ‭Central assistance released- Year wise.‬
‭1.1.4.‬ ‭State- Wise Data‬
‭1.2.‬ ‭Crime in India reports till 2023 by National Crime Records Bureau‬‭8‬
‭1.3.‬ ‭Year-wise‬‭Details‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Number‬‭of‬‭Couples‬‭Provided‬‭Incentive‬‭for‬‭Inter-caste‬
‭Marriage from 2019-20 to 2021-22 by Open Government Data‬‭9‬
‭2.‬ ‭Procedural Evaluation of laws‬
‭2.1.‬ ‭Hindu Marriage Act, 1955‬
‭2.2.‬ ‭Special Marriage Act, 1954‬
‭2.3.‬ ‭State-wise NGO intervention‬
‭2.4.‬ ‭Indian Penal Code‬
‭2.5.‬ ‭Code of Criminal Procedure,1973‬
‭2.6.‬ ‭Code of Civil Procedure, 1908‬
‭3.‬ ‭Data and law critique‬‭of articles like-‬
‭3.1.‬ ‭“Inter-Caste‬ ‭or‬ ‭Inter-Religious‬ ‭Marriages‬ ‭and‬ ‭Honour‬ ‭Related‬ ‭Violence‬ ‭in‬
‭India” by Dr. Dharmendra Kumar Singh.‬‭10‬ ‭Key points-‬
‭3.1.1.‬ ‭India‬ ‭has‬ ‭had‬ ‭a‬ ‭significant‬ ‭surge‬ ‭in‬ ‭occurrences‬ ‭of‬ ‭Honour‬ ‭Deaths‬
‭(growth rate of 792% in 2015).‬
‭3.1.2.‬ ‭Honour‬ ‭crimes‬ ‭mostly‬ ‭occur‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭states‬ ‭of‬ ‭Haryana,‬ ‭Punjab,‬
‭Rajasthan,‬ ‭Uttar‬ ‭Pradesh,‬ ‭and‬ ‭Bihar.‬ ‭These‬‭crimes‬‭are‬‭often‬‭triggered‬
‭by‬ ‭inter-caste‬ ‭weddings‬ ‭or‬ ‭instances‬ ‭when‬ ‭couples‬ ‭choose‬ ‭to‬ ‭depart‬
‭from‬ ‭their‬ ‭parental‬ ‭households,‬ ‭leading‬ ‭to‬ ‭acts‬ ‭of‬‭damage‬‭against‬‭the‬
‭couple and their close family members.‬
‭3.1.3.‬ ‭The‬‭Law‬‭Commission‬‭of‬‭India‬‭has‬‭put‬‭out‬‭a‬‭proposed‬‭legal‬‭framework‬
‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭bill‬ ‭named‬ ‭"Prevention‬ ‭of‬ ‭Interference‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭Freedom‬ ‭of‬
‭Matrimonial Alliances (in the name of Honour and Tradition)."‬
‭3.2.‬ ‭“CROSSING‬‭THE‬‭JATI‬‭LINE:‬‭SUPREME‬‭COURT'S‬‭ROLE‬‭IN‬‭PROMOTING‬
‭INTER-CASTE MARRIAGE IN INDIA”‬‭11‬ ‭Key Points-‬
‭3.2.1.‬ ‭Despite‬ ‭ongoing‬ ‭attempts‬ ‭to‬ ‭encourage‬ ‭inter-caste‬ ‭marriages,‬ ‭the‬
‭application‬ ‭of‬ ‭rules‬ ‭remains‬ ‭marked‬ ‭by‬ ‭inconsistency.‬ ‭There‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬
‭pervasive‬ ‭and‬ ‭persistent‬ ‭tendency‬ ‭in‬ ‭which‬ ‭children‬ ‭mostly‬ ‭inherit‬
‭their‬ ‭caste‬ ‭affiliation‬ ‭from‬ ‭their‬ ‭fathers,‬ ‭hence‬ ‭disregarding‬ ‭the‬ ‭caste‬
‭identification of their mothers.‬
‭3.2.2.‬ ‭This‬ ‭article‬ ‭suggests‬ ‭making‬ ‭adjustments‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭policy‬ ‭in‬ ‭order‬ ‭to‬
‭improve the inclusiveness and effectiveness of the framework.‬
‭3.2.3.‬ ‭The‬ ‭determination‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭child's‬ ‭caste‬ ‭in‬ ‭situations‬ ‭when‬ ‭parents‬ ‭from‬
‭different‬ ‭castes‬ ‭have‬ ‭separated‬ ‭is‬ ‭impacted‬ ‭by‬ ‭an‬ ‭evaluation‬ ‭of‬ ‭their‬
‭upbringing.‬
‭3.2.4.‬ ‭A‬ ‭notable‬ ‭inconsistency‬ ‭exists‬ ‭among‬ ‭courts‬ ‭over‬ ‭their‬ ‭interpretation‬
‭of the standards used to ascertain the degree of‬
‭3.2.5.‬ ‭The‬ ‭authors‬ ‭suggest‬ ‭the‬ ‭adoption‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭comprehensive‬ ‭and‬ ‭inclusive‬
‭evaluation‬ ‭framework‬ ‭to‬ ‭ascertain‬ ‭the‬ ‭caste‬‭identity‬‭of‬‭offspring‬‭born‬
‭from a union between persons belonging to different castes.‬
‭4.‬ ‭News Articles‬‭like-‬

‭8‬
‭Crime in India Table Contents | National Crime Records Bureau. (n.d.).‬
‭https://ncrb.gov.in/en/crime-in-india-table-addtional-table-and-chapter-contents‬
‭9‬
‭Open Government Data (ODG) Platform India Home. (n.d.).‬
‭https://data.gov.in/resource/year-wise-details-number-couples-provided-incentive-inter-caste-marriage-2019-20-2021-22‬
‭10‬
‭Singh, D. K., “Inter-Caste or Inter-Religious Marriages‬‭and Honour Related Violence in India”, International Journal of‬
‭Humanities and Social Science Invention ISSN (Online): 2319 – 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 7714‬‭www.ijhssi.org‬‭,‬‭du Volume 6‬
‭Issue, 2017, pp.49-53‬‭https://www.ijhssi.org/papers/v6(6)/Version-2/I0606024953.pdf‬
‭11‬
‭Patel, Kiran. "Crossing the Jati Line: Supreme Court's‬‭Role in Promoting Inter-Caste Marriage in India." Supremo Amicus, 15,‬
‭2020, pp. 174-182. HeinOnline,‬‭https://heinonline-org.opj.remotlog.com/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/supami15&i=184‬‭.‬
 4‭ .1.‬ ‬ xplained: Laws To Protect Intercaste Marriages In India‬‭” by Pooja Yadav‬‭12‬
“‭ ‭E
‭4.2.‬ ‭“‭S
‬ tudy‬ ‭Finds‬ ‭Rise‬ ‭in‬ ‭Reported‬‭Cases‬‭of‬‭Honour‬‭Killings,‬‭but‬‭No‬‭Legislative‬
‭or Social Remedy in Hand‬‭”‬‭13‬
‭4.3.‬ ‭“‭T ‬ he couples on the run for love in India‬‭”‬‭14‬
‭5.‬ ‭Local news articles‬

‭PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION‬

‭1.‬ ‭ uantitative‬ ‭Data:‬‭Surveys,‬‭structured‬‭interviews‬‭and‬‭unstructured‬‭interviews‬‭of‬‭inter-caste‬‭couples‬

Q
‭selected‬ ‭from‬ ‭different‬ ‭regions‬ ‭and‬‭states‬‭of‬‭India‬‭to‬‭measure‬‭the‬‭following‬‭key‬‭variables‬‭and‬‭their‬
‭specifications:‬
‭1.1.1.‬ ‭Demographic Information‬
‭1.1.2.‬ ‭Prevalence of inter-caste marriages in specific regions: frequency and durations.‬
‭1.1.3.‬ ‭Awareness‬ ‭of‬ ‭Legal‬ ‭Rights‬ ‭and‬ ‭Implications:‬ ‭disputes,‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭and‬ ‭legal‬
‭challenges faced.‬
‭1.1.4.‬ ‭Implications on family planning.‬
‭1.1.5.‬ ‭Levels of social stigmatisation: measurement on the Likert-scale.‬
‭1.1.6.‬ ‭Marriage under which law‬
‭1.1.7.‬ ‭Perception of Familial Opposition: most frequently deployed coping mechanisms.‬
‭1.2.‬ ‭Qualitative Data‬
‭1.2.1.‬ ‭Legal‬ ‭experts‬ ‭and‬ ‭activists‬ ‭specialising‬ ‭in‬ ‭family‬ ‭law‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬‭interviewed‬‭and‬‭taken‬
‭guidance‬ ‭from‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭comprehensive‬‭understanding‬‭of‬‭the‬‭implications‬‭and‬‭execution‬
‭of‬‭established‬‭laws‬‭and‬‭norms‬‭with‬‭the‬‭purpose‬‭of‬‭identifying‬‭common‬‭problems‬‭and‬
‭available recourse or recommendations.‬
‭1.2.2.‬ ‭Interviews‬ ‭of‬ ‭persons‬ ‭with‬ ‭experience‬ ‭orienting‬ ‭to‬ ‭inter-caste‬ ‭marriages‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬
‭distinguished‬ ‭from‬ ‭first-‬ ‭and‬ ‭second-hand‬ ‭experiences‬ ‭and‬ ‭this‬ ‭data‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬
‭thematically‬‭divided.‬‭This‬‭data‬‭will‬‭be‬‭compared‬‭to‬‭identified‬‭categories‬‭to‬‭determine‬
‭divergent experiences.‬
‭1.2.3.‬ ‭Interviews‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬ ‭audio‬ ‭recorded‬ ‭and‬ ‭participants‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬ ‭briefed‬ ‭prior‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬
‭interviews.‬
‭1.3.‬ ‭Data Analysis‬
‭1.3.1.‬ ‭Stratified sample selection for reflections across demographics.‬
‭1.3.2.‬ ‭Participants‬‭preferred‬‭method‬‭of‬‭data‬‭collection‬‭will‬‭be‬‭prioritised‬‭(for‬‭example:‬‭if‬‭the‬
‭participant prefers online interviews)‬
‭1.3.3.‬ ‭Statistical‬ ‭Data‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬ ‭analysed‬ ‭by‬ ‭software‬ ‭for‬ ‭accuracy‬ ‭and‬ ‭to‬ ‭maintain‬ ‭the‬
‭anonymity‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭survey‬ ‭takers‬ ‭(subject‬ ‭to‬ ‭prevailing‬ ‭circumstances‬ ‭and‬ ‭stipulated‬
‭terms‬‭and‬‭conditions‬‭of‬‭the‬‭survey)‬‭and‬‭the‬‭report‬‭will‬‭not‬‭just‬‭be‬‭limited‬‭to‬‭the‬‭mean,‬
‭median and mode of the data to derive inferential statistics.‬
‭1.3.4.‬ ‭Regression‬ ‭Analysis‬ ‭and‬ ‭T-‬ ‭Tests‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬ ‭conducted‬ ‭for‬ ‭both‬ ‭qualitative‬ ‭and‬
‭quantitative data to draw comparisons.‬
‭1.3.5.‬ ‭The survey will be beta-tested to identify mistakes, lacunas, and amelioration.‬
‭1.3.6.‬ ‭Consent forms will be signed for any data collection.‬

‭Sample Survey and Interview Questions‬

‭1.‬ ‭What is your age and sex?‬

‭12‬
‭Yadav, P. (2022, August 29). Explained: Laws To Protect Intercaste Marriages In India.‬‭IndiaTimes‬‭.‬
‭ ttps://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/laws-to-protect-intercaste-marriages-in-india-577759.html#:~:text=Only%205%25%‬
h
‭20of%20Indian%20marriages%20are%20inter%2Dcaste,-According%20to%20Census&text=As%20per%20the%20latest%20Nat‬
‭ional,the%20actual%20picture%20is%20grimmer‬
‭13‬
‭Study finds rise in reported cases of honour killings, but no legislative or social remedy in hand. (n.d.-b). The Wire.‬
‭https://thewire.in/caste/caste-honour-killings-cases-laws‬
‭14‬
‭BBC News. (2019, April 13). The couples on the run for love in India. BBC News.‬
‭https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47823588‬
2‭ .‬ W ‭ hich state and region are you from?‬
‭3.‬ ‭What is your caste background?‬
‭a.‬ ‭General‬
‭b.‬ ‭OBC (Other Backward Class)‬
‭c.‬ ‭ST (Scheduled Tribe)‬
‭d.‬ ‭Other (please specify): ______‬
‭e.‬ ‭Prefer not to answer this question‬
‭4.‬ ‭In which year did you get married?‬
‭5.‬ ‭What is your highest level of education?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Less than high school‬
‭b.‬ ‭High school graduate‬
‭c.‬ ‭Some college or vocational training‬
‭d.‬ ‭Bachelor's degree‬
‭e.‬ ‭Postgraduate degree (Master's, Ph.D., etc.)‬
‭6.‬ ‭What is your occupational background?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Student‬
‭b.‬ ‭Employed full-time‬
‭c.‬ ‭Employed part-time‬
‭d.‬ ‭Self-employed‬
‭e.‬ ‭Unemployed‬
‭f.‬ ‭Retired‬
‭g.‬ ‭Other (please specify): ______‬
‭7.‬ ‭Have you or anyone you know faced legal disputes due to an inter-caste marriage?‬
‭a.‬ ‭a.‬ ‭Yes (specify the nature of the dispute)‬
‭b.‬ ‭b.‬ ‭No‬
‭8.‬ ‭In your opinion, does an inter-caste marriage affect marital duties and responsibilities?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Yes, positively‬
‭b.‬ ‭Yes, negatively‬
‭c.‬ ‭No, it has no impact‬
‭d.‬ ‭I don't know‬
‭9.‬ ‭Does an inter-caste marriage affect decisions about childbearing or family planning?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Yes, positively‬
‭b.‬ ‭Yes, negatively‬
‭c.‬ ‭No, it has no impact‬
‭d.‬ ‭I don't know‬
‭10.‬‭On‬‭a‬‭scale‬‭of‬‭1‬‭to‬‭5,‬‭how‬‭much‬‭do‬‭you‬‭believe‬‭inter-caste‬‭marriages‬‭are‬‭stigmatised‬‭in‬‭your‬
‭society, with 1 being "Not stigmatised at all" and 5 being "Highly stigmatised"?‬
‭a.‬ ‭1‬
‭b.‬ ‭2‬
‭c.‬ ‭3‬
‭d.‬ ‭4‬
‭e.‬ ‭5‬
‭11.‬‭Which marriage law was opted for?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Hindu Marriage Act, 1955‬
‭b.‬ ‭Special Marriage Act, 1954‬
‭12.‬‭Have you faced prejudice due to an inter-caste marriage?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Yes (please specify the nature of discrimination or harassment)‬
‭b.‬ ‭No‬
‭13.‬‭How did your families react to your inter-caste union?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Accepted and supported the marriage‬
‭b.‬ ‭Expressed concerns but eventually accepted.‬
‭c.‬ ‭Strongly opposed‬
‭d.‬ ‭Strongly oppose and try to prevent the marriage‬
‭14.‬‭How frequently do you come across other inter-caste couples?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Very frequently‬
‭b.‬ ‭Somewhat frequently‬
‭c.‬ ‭Occasionally‬
‭d.‬ ‭Rarely‬
‭e.‬ ‭Never‬
‭15.‬‭How long do inter-caste marriages typically last in your region?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Less than 1 year‬
‭b.‬ ‭1-5 years‬
‭c.‬ ‭6-10 years‬
‭d.‬ ‭More than 10 years‬
‭e.‬ ‭Unaware of marriage durations‬
‭16.‬‭How many of these laws are you aware of? (select one or multiple options)‬
‭a.‬ ‭None of the following‬
‭b.‬ ‭Hindu‬ ‭Marriage‬ ‭Act,‬ ‭1955‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭expressly‬ ‭include‬‭SC‬‭&‬‭ST‬‭within‬‭the‬‭ambit‬‭of‬
‭“Hindu”.‬
‭c.‬ ‭Special Marriage, 1954 has a 30-day notice period.‬
‭d.‬ ‭Divorce Procedure under the laws stated above‬
‭17.‬‭What‬ ‭are‬ ‭the‬ ‭common‬ ‭repercussions‬ ‭faced‬ ‭by‬ ‭couples‬ ‭who‬ ‭undergo‬ ‭familial‬ ‭opposition‬ ‭to‬
‭their inter-caste marriage?‬
‭18.‬‭What coping mechanisms were/are used in case of familial/ societal resistance?‬
‭19.‬‭What changes were/are brought upon employment, residence and family planning?‬
‭20.‬‭What are the legal obstacles faced in Inter-caste marriages?‬
‭21.‬‭What was your personal experience?‬
‭22.‬‭What‬ ‭issues‬ ‭pertaining‬ ‭to‬ ‭registrations,‬ ‭property‬ ‭disputes,‬ ‭social‬ ‭implications,‬ ‭custody,‬
‭legitimacy, stigma faced or witnessed, response to stigmatisation and etc are faced?‬
‭23.‬‭Are you satisfied with the existing law? Why/why not?‬
‭24.‬‭Have‬ ‭you‬ ‭faced‬ ‭procedural/‬ ‭authoritative‬ ‭resistance‬ ‭or‬ ‭corruption‬ ‭with‬ ‭regard‬‭to‬‭inter-caste‬
‭marriage?‬
‭25.‬‭What Government incentives have you been aware of?‬
‭26.‬‭What incentives can the government take?‬
‭27.‬‭Have NGOs in your region streamlined the process? If yes, how?‬
‭28.‬‭What changes can be brought in the existing laws? How can the legal obstacles be removed?‬