Karnataka anti-superstition Bill

Why in news?

Recently Karnataka Cabinet cleared Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017.

What is the significance of this bill?

• This bill is popularly known as the anti-superstition Bill.
• It is expected 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.
• It has provisions to deal strongly with cruel practices, such as human sacrifice, and parading naked women and sexual exploitation by invoking supernatural powers.
• The Bill has been drafted on the lines of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifices and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

What acts and practices are banned by this bill?

• Uruli seve -Facilitating any person or persons roll over on the leaves of leftover food by other persons in any public or religious places.
• Fire-walk - Coercing any person to perform at the time of religious festivals, causing physical injury
• Baibiga practice -Practice of piercing from rods from one side of jaw to another side of the jaw and including the tongue.
• Banamathi -Pelting stones in the name ofmata-mantra on the residential houses during night or day.
• Gandra-dora- Prohibiting and preventing a person from taking medical treatment in the case of dog, snake, or scorpion bite, and instead giving him superstitious ‘treatment.
• This may include claiming to perform surgery by fingers or claiming to change the sex of a foetus in womb of a woman.
• Gaavu -Forcing person to carry on evil practices such as killing of an animal by biting its neck, that cause harm to public health nuisance
• Sidi - Persuading, propagating or facilitating rituals that involve self-inflicted injuries such as hanging from a hook inserted into the body or pulling a chariot by hook inserted into the body
• Betthale seve - Subjecting women to inhuman and humiliating practices such as parading them naked in the name of worship.

What are the acts and practices not banned by the bill?

• Pradakshina or Parikrama - Circumambulation of sacred places in Hindu, Jain or Buddhist context.
• Yatra - holy pilgrimage performed to religious places.
• Religious art forms -The acts of teaching of ancient and traditional learning and arts, practice, propagation and circulation through Harikata, Keerthana, Bhajana, and Upassana.
• Publicity and distribution of literature about miracles of the religious preachers which do not cause physical injury.
• Performance of prayers, religious rituals at home, and other religious places which do not cause physical injury.
• All religious celebrations, festivals, prayers, procession and other act relating other rituals
• Piercing of ears and nose of children in accordance with rituals and performance of religious ritual.
• Kesh Lochan - Plucking of one’s hair instead of shaving which is practiced by the Jains.
• Advice in regard to vaastu shasthra, and advice by jyothishya and other astrologers.

Source: The Hindu