Govt Policies & Interventions

KEY POINTS

·         Everything associated with any religion can be considered superstitious for the simple fact that there is no scientific rationale behind the same.

·         In this context, an anti-superstition law affects freedom of religion.

·         Such practices can’t be curbed because they don’t harm anyone.

·         The fundamental tenet of our liberal democracy gives the freedom of conscience and to believe in things even when science and rationality don’t support them.

·         Meanwhile, some superstitious practices, like throwing children on thorns, parading women naked, etc., obviously harm others and can’t be allowed in the name of religion.

·         In this context, an anti-superstition law seems necessary.

·         Bringing a law against such superstitions will not affect the freedom of religion, if the domain of such a law be confined to curb those activities alone, associated primarily with religious and occult practices.

Do we need a separate law?

·         It has been argued that the existing provisions in IPCs are sufficient to address such crimes.

·         But, a separate law is necessary because the relationship between a devotee and godman is of a peculiar nature, often marked by violence.

·         Such a law should first distinct the superstitious practices from the religion. 

·         It should clearly ban the process that exploits the vulnerable in the name of religion.

·         E.g. Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

·         Consider the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, 2005. There are provisions in the IPC to punish violence, but the peculiar nature of the violence faced by women within the family needed a separate law.

Recommendations

·         Such crimes  could not be completely achieved by legislative measures alone.

·         It needs devotee – religious institutions partnership to curb such practices.

·         A discussion initiated between the religious institutions and devotees throw up alternative rituals more satisfying to devotees instead of derogatory practices that harm people.

·         Work of civil societies and NGOs are also necessary to propagate awareness among the vulnerable to safeguard them from the evil practices.

Please review.