Karnataka's new anti-superstition Bill proposes to ban 23 ugly practices

July 9, 2016

Bengaluru, Jul 9: The new version of an anti-superstition Bill?proposes to ban 23 practices, including human torture in the name of rituals and display of miracles' to earn money.

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The draft Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifices and other Inhuman Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill-2016 is a modified version of the Karnataka Prevention of Superstitious Practices Bill-2013.

The copy of the Bill was circulated at the state Cabinet meeting on Friday.

The Bill will be debated in the next Cabinet meeting, too, and introduced in the ongoing legislature session, according to Law Minister T?B Jayachandra.

The 2013 Bill had met with resistance from various quarters as it proposed to ban numerology, astrology among others, and was referred to the scrutiny committee for modification. The 2016 Bill is yet to be made public.

According to sources, it lists out practices which are proposed to be banned and those which will not apply under the provisions of the Bill. (See chart) Besides social evils like human sacrifice and Aghori, the Bill proposes to ban made snana', the practice of people rolling over leftovers after Brahmins have partaken food in temples; and fire-walking, the act of walking barefoot on redhot embers, which is a common practice in Karnataka.

Unhealthy rituals

Human sacrifice; propagation of human sacrifice

Practices like made snana', fire-walking, banamati', bettale seve'

Torture in the name of exorcism

Display of miracles to earn money or terrorise people

Inhuman, evil and Aghori practices which endanger life

Practice of black magic in search of precious things

Creating fear in others by claiming to have supernatural powers

Creating panic by threatening to invoke ghosts

It won't apply to...

Worship

Teaching of ancient and traditional learning

Performance of prayers

All religious celebrations

Piercing of ears, nose in accordance with religious rituals

Advice of vastu shastra', astrology and advice with regard to source of groundwater

Comments

Rajesh Sequira
 - 
Saturday, 9 Jul 2016

How can they pass this bill? Hindu religion is based on superstitions and the brahmins are preying upon the fears created on the lower classes.

Ahmed Ali K
 - 
Saturday, 9 Jul 2016

Please also add in the ban list - worshipping dead.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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