Anti-superstition bill gets government nod in Karnataka, likely to get passed in Parliament winter session

Bengaluru : Karnataka government on Wednesday cleared proposal of much-delayed and debated Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017, popularly known as the anti-superstition Bill.

The Bill will now be tabled in Parliament during the winter session and is likely to be passed with ease.

After coming into effect, it is likely to put an end to various inhuman practices such as black magic, witchcraft, or any act in the name of religion that causes harm to humans and animals.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that his government was committed to bring a law against superstitious acts and confident that it will be passed in the ensuing assembly session.

The state government has been under pressure from civil society groups to amend the anti-superstition law after the murder of rationalist M.M. Kalburgi in August 2016. 

What will be banned after the imposition of the bill?

The Bill proposes to ban, among other rituals, women parading and dancing naked for boon in the Hindu deity Renukamba Devi temple at Chandragutti in Shivammoga district.

Another age-old superstitious practice sought to be banned is called 'Made Snana' wherein devotees roll over plantain leaf with food left over by Brahmins at Kukke Subramanya Temple in Dakshina Kannada district, ostensibly for curing body ailments.

The Bill is also intended to stop people walking over fire in some religious festivals, using snake, scorpion or dog bites to cure rare diseases and preventing sacrificing bulls in Nagalamadhika temple in Tumukaru district.

(with IANS inputs)