Kerala, which recently witnessed an alarming spurt in the number of black magic cases, is gearing up to bring in a legislation to curb “inhuman” practices and exploitation in the name of superstition.
The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2019 has been submitted to the CPI(M)-led LDF Government for its consideration to pass as legislation. On the lines of the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill, passed by Maharashtra and Karnataka, the State-run Kerala Law Reforms Commission has drafted the bill to fight superstition and eradicate “inhuman evil” practices propagated in the name of black magic.
The draft bill, accessed by PTI, proposes stringent punishment for any kind of evil practice and cheating in the name of black magic, ranging from “expelling ghost” to isolating women for menstruation and postpartum.
It also aims at raising social awareness in the society with a view to protect people against fraudulent and exploitative practices thriving on ignorance. The legislative assemblies of Karnataka and Maharashtra had passed the Anti-Superstition Black Magic Bill in 2017 and 2013, respectively.
“The draft bill is completed and we have submitted it to the State Government,” K Sasidharan Nair, Vice Chairman, Kerala Law Reforms Commission, told PTI.
“Unlike the bills passed by Maharashtra and Karnataka, we have given special thrust to a series of intense awareness programmes in our bill for the Government to implement. Because, superstition seems to be so deep-rooted in the minds of Keralite people nowadays,” he said.
“While going through many instances of superstition, I feel whether we deserve to be called a civilised society? Only a few cases are reported in the media,” Nair, also a former law secretary, said. He said a legislation and stringent punishment alone cannot make any changes in the mindset of the people. “As it is a very sensitive topic, we have drafted the bill very carefully. I personally feel that public opinion should be garnered before it is enacted as law by the Government,” the vice-chairperson added.