Draft:Lal Bahadur Khowal

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Lal Bahadur Khowal along with Selja Kumari and Rahul Gandhi at Banglore in Bharat Jodo Yatra

Lal Bahadur Khowal is an advocate practicing mainly in District Court Hisar along with Punjab and Haryana High Court and Supreme Court of India. He is also active in politicis. He was appointed as State Chairman of Legal Department Haryana Pradesh congress Committee. He is also appointed as Pradesh Congress Committee Delegate and is now acting as incharge of Bhiwani district and Charkhi Dadri district. He is also the General Secretary of Gurukul Aryanagar Hisar. He was also the member of Congress Manifesto Committee Haryana 2019. He is National Legal Advisor of All Indian Backward classes Federation.

Lal Bahadur Khowal joined the Bar as an Advocate in 1991. He has been practising law for the last 3-4 decades and has many reported High Court and Supreme Court judgments to his credit. He is an expert in Criminal Law. He has argued numerous cases, including the Division bench judgments of Relu Ram Poonia MLA murder case and Manoj–Babli honour killing case and Dabra Gang Rape case. Throughout his political career, Khowal has worked for uplifting the Backward Class.

Career

In a case he argued, Manoj–Babli honour killing case is a landmark case in Criminal law wherein the arguments of Khowal led to the death sentence of five perpetrators in the Karnal District Court.

The case was the first resulting in the conviction of khap panchayats and the first capital punishment verdict in an honour killing case in India. The Indian media and legal experts hailed it as a "landmark judgement", a victory over these infamous assemblies, which acted for years with impunity as parallel judicial bodies. Also, few honour killing cases went to court, and this was the first case in which the groom's family in an honour killing filed the case.

In March 2010, a Karnal district court sentenced the five perpetrators to death, the first time an Indian court had done so in an honour killing case. The khap head who ordered but did not take part in the killings received a life sentence, and the driver involved in the abduction a seven-year prison term. According to Home Minister P. Chidambaram, the UPA-led central government was to propose an amendment to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in response to the deaths of Manoj and Babli, making honour killings a "distinct offense".

Social Activities

Gurukul Aryanagar

As the General Secretary of Gurukul Aranagar Hisar which was established in 1962 has led the organisation to great heights by improving the infrasturucture and managing the organisation and keeping it away from politics and keeping it down to earth and roots. Lal Bahadur Khowal, a prominent figure in the legal field, also dedicates his time and expertise to serving as the General Secretary of Gurukul Aryanagar, a revered Sanskrit school in India. Gurukul embraces the traditional method of teaching Sanskrit, embodying the essence of ancient Indian education and their fight against the social evils. Khowal's commitment to this role underscores his dedication to preserving the rich cultural heritage and knowledge that Sanskrit embodies. By nurturing the continuation of traditional teaching methods, he contributes to the sustenance of a timeless educational approach that has deep historical roots in India. Khowal's dual role as a legal advocate and a custodian of traditional education exemplifies his multifaceted contributions to both the legal and cultural landscapes of the country.

MPSwami Sumedhanand Sarawati ji is also the President of Gurukul Arya Nagar in Hisar.

All India Backward Classes Federation

Lal Bahadur Khowal plays a pivotal role as the National Legal Advisor of the All India Backward Classes Federation. The Federation recently lodged a significant petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the court's previous verdict that upheld the constitutional validity of the 10 percent quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in government positions and educational institutions.

Arguing that the EWS quota essentially equates to social and caste-based reservation rather than purely economic-based reservation, the Federation emphasizes the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach. Khowal's expertise in legal matters contributes to this effort to ensure that the benefits of the EWS quota are accessible to all economically disadvantaged sections, prioritizing those from OBCs, SCs, and STs backgrounds.

The initial verdict on the 103rd constitutional amendment, which established the EWS quota, was reached with a 3:2 majority by a Constitution Bench led by former Chief Justice of India UU Lalit. While the majority upheld the validity of the EWS quota, Justice S Ravindra Bhat provided a dissenting verdict. Khowal has always championed for social and economic justice, contributing to ongoing dialogues about reservation systems in India.

Lal Bahadur Khowal in Delhi in 2024

Congress Manifesto Committee Haryana 2019

Lal Bahadur Khowal's significant role as the member of the Congress Manifesto Committee for Haryana truly made a difference. He ensured the inclusion of essential demands for the backward classes in the party's manifesto. The promises, which reflected his dedication, encompassed vital changes like 27% reservation for Class I and II jobs, addressing long-standing concerns about SC/BC vacancies, and offering 1 acre land to the Kumhar Community. Khowal's efforts also led to the establishment of a Board for various artisan communities, ensuring their recognition and prosperity. His dedication extended to economic empowerment, with a plan to provide an interest-free loan of Rs 2.5 lakh for 5 years. Moreover, the proposed increase in the creamy layer limit showcased his commitment to uplift marginalized sections.

Manoj–Babli honour killing case

The Manoj–Babli honour killing case was the honour killing of Indian newlyweds Manoj and Babli in June 2007 and the subsequent court case which historically convicted defendants for an honour killing. The accused in the murder included relatives of Babli (grandfather Gangaraj, who is said to have been a Khap leader, brother, maternal and paternal uncles and two cousins). Relatives of Manoj, especially his mother, defended the relationship.

Lal Bahadur Khowal the lawyer representing Manoj's family said that "The police was refusing to arrest the criminal, Ganga Raj. News reports pointed out how Panchayats around Haryana were being held in his favour and how khaps were issuing warnings against his arrest. A senior police officer made a statement in court saying that Ganga Raj can’t be arrested because his arrest could create a law and order situation. He said this in court! I was shocked to see a lawful authority unwilling to arrest an alleged criminal citing law and order."

Lal Bahadur Khowal expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, stating that the superintendent of police has been directed to take appropriate action against the negligent police officials. He praised the verdict, believing it will send a powerful message and restore the common man's trust in the judiciary. he said, adding, “Lighter punishment would have been a mockery of justice.”

In March 2010, a Karnal district court sentenced the five perpetrators to death, the first time an Indian court had done so in an honour killing case. The khap head who ordered but did not take part in the killings received a life sentence, and the driver involved in the abduction received a seven-year prison term. According to Home Minister P. Chidambaram, the UPA-led central government was to propose an amendment to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in response to the deaths of Manoj and Babli, making honour killings a "distinct offense".

Poonia murders

The Relu Ram Poonia MLA murder case or Poonia murders was a mass murder of the Indian politician Relu Ram Poonia and seven of his family members. The murders were committed by Relu Ram's daughter Sonia, along with her husband Sanjeev Kumar, on the night of 23 August 2001 over a property dispute. The case was filed and Sonia, Sanjeev and various members of his family were tried. The couple was convicted of the murder charges and sentenced to death by the district court. The sentence was reduced to life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court but the death sentence was reinstated by the Supreme Court of India.[1]

Dabra Gangrape

The 16-yr-old Dalit girl was gangraped by 8 persons on the evening of September 9, but she informed about the incident to her parents on September 18, after which her father committed suicide the next day and matter came to light. They assaulted her for nearly three hours and then threatened to kill her if she told anyone, and for days the girl said nothing. Speaking out would have been difficult, anyway, given the entrenched hierarchy of caste. She, being poor and a Dalit, a member of the low-caste group once labeled as untouchables, faced an uphill battle. Most of the attackers hailed from a higher caste, which wielded dominance over land and power in the village. This glaring power dynamic compounded her plight, making it daunting for her to seek justice or even raise her voice against the injustices perpetrated upon her. The intersectionality of caste and socioeconomic status further marginalized her, underscoring the deeply ingrained inequalities that persist in society. In such a system, the barriers to justice are not only legal but deeply entrenched in the social fabric, amplifying the challenges faced by marginalized individuals like her.A Village Rape Shatters a Family, and India’s Traditional Silence

The District Court gave life imprisonment to the four accused convicted on charges of gangraping a minor girl in Dabra village of Hisar district. Reacting to the judgment, the victim's lawyer, Lal Bahadur Khowal, said: “At a time when the nation is looking up to courts to deal such cases with an iron hand, acquittal of four accused in this case is a big blow. I am not satisfied with the judgment. On the behalf of the victim's family, I will pursue the case in the high court.”Trial court convicts 4, acquits 6 in Dabra gangrape case