Patna: A village court in Bihar has banned T-shirts and jeans for college-going girls in Bihar in a move that it claims will put a brake on rising cases of elopements — the key factor behind honour killings.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held at Phulwaria block headquarters in Gopalganj district on Wednesday evening. The court also put a ban on the use of cell phones by girls.
The meeting followed the rising incidents of elopements and rape in the area. “Wearing of sexy dresses by girls is vitiating the social atmosphere and hence we decided to impose blanket ban on them,” said professor and president of Bihar Mukhia Association Ali Akbar Ansari, who chaired the meeting. A ‘Mukhia’ is the head of a village council.
Instead of mobile phones for girls, the court recommended providing them with laptops to increase their knowledge.
Witnesses said a good number of women too attended the village court and strongly supported the ban of western clothes for girls.
The court also decided to extensively publicise the decision of the court in all the villages falling under the Phulwaria block by using the public-address system. It said families who oppose the decision should be socially boycotted.
This is the second time in quick succession that the village courts in the state have taken such a decision. In April this year, a village court in Madhubani district banned the use of cell phones for girls and boys blaming it on soaring incidents of elopements.
“Mobile phones are helping them get in touch and plan for their elopements… they (phones) are corrupting our cultures and we can’t be silent spectators to all these,” the village court said.
The incidents of elopements have become a matter of serious concern in Bihar, resulting in a sudden boom in honour killings. Only last week, a woman in Bihar was lynched while her boyfriend was blinded by acid poured in his eyes by angry villagers for allegedly falling in love. The incident took place in Araria district.
