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The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala backs off from enacting black magic law, cites policy decision in High Court
The Left government in Kerala has told the High Court that it will not proceed to enact a law to ban black magic, sorcery, and other inhuman practices, citing a policy decision made by the State Cabinet. In an affidavit filed before a Division Bench of Kerala High Court, headed by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, Kerala said a draft bill titled 'The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2022' had been prepared based on recommendations from the Law Reforms Commission. However, after deliberations, the Council of Ministers decided on July 5, 2023, not to go ahead with the legislation, it said. The government submitted that while the court may have noted the social concerns raised in the PIL, it cannot compel the legislature to pass a law. "A writ of mandamus will not lie against the legislature directing it to legislate on a particular subject," the affidavit said. Meanwhile, the High Court asked the State government to clarify the steps it intends to take to control sorcery and black magic, especially in light of the government's stand that no legislation is currently under consideration. The court noted that although the K.T. Thomas Commission report had recommended legislation to curb black magic and related inhuman practices, the government had not taken any follow-up action on the report. The court has now asked the State to clearly explain how it plans to prevent the practice of black magic and sorcery, even in the absence of a law. It also directed the government to file a detailed affidavit within three weeks. The Kerala Home department had filed the affidavit on June 21, 2025, stating that the Council of Ministers had initially discussed the matter but later decided not to proceed with legislation. The court had earlier asked the State to clarify its position after a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham sought a law similar to those enacted in Maharashtra and Karnataka to prohibit harmful rituals conducted in the name of supernatural powers. The PIL, first filed in 2022, was dismissed in June 2023 due to the absence of representation from the petitioner. It was later restored, prompting the High Court to seek the government's latest stance. The Yuktivadi Sangham, in its plea, has stated that the Law Reforms Commission, headed by Justice (retired) K.T. Thomas, had submitted a comprehensive report to the State of Kerala in the year 2019, with legislative recommendations based on new social conditions. "The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill-2019, is one of the recommended statutes. But so far, no attempt has been made on the part of the state on the matter," the organisation has claimed. The plea was filed in 2022 in the wake of a ritual human sacrifice of two women in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala by three people, including a couple. The petition has claimed that the states of Kerala and Maharashtra have passed laws against sorcery and black magic. It has also sought a declaration that "films on big screens and OTT platforms, and several serials and other telefilms, aired on television channels and YouTube, having content of superstitious beliefs, including sorcery and occult practices, exempting those having good intentions and having good artistic values, are illegal".
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kerala backs off from enacting black magic law, cites policy decision in High Court
Kochi, The Left Government in Kerala has told the High Court that it will not proceed to enact a law to ban black magic, sorcery, and other inhuman practices, citing a policy decision made by the state cabinet. Kerala backs off from enacting black magic law, cites policy decision in High Court In an affidavit filed before a division of Kerala High Court, headed by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, the state said a draft bill titled "The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2022" had been prepared based on recommendations from the Law Reforms Commission. However, after deliberations, the council of ministers decided on July 5, 2023, not to go ahead with the legislation, it said. The government submitted that while the court may have noted the social concerns raised in the PIL, it cannot compel the legislature to pass a law. "A writ of mandamus will not lie against the legislature directing it to legislate on a particular subject," the affidavit said. Meanwhile, the high court asked the state government to clarify the steps it intends to take to control sorcery and black magic, especially in light of the government's stand that no legislation is currently under consideration. The court noted that although the K T Thomas Commission report had recommended legislation to curb black magic and related inhuman practices, the government had not taken any follow-up action on the report. The court has now asked the state to clearly explain how it plans to prevent the practice of black magic and sorcery, even in the absence of a law. It also directed the government to file a detailed affidavit within three weeks. The state's home department had filed the affidavit on June 21, 2025, stating that the Council of Ministers had initially discussed the matter but later decided not to proceed with legislation. The court had earlier asked the state to clarify its position after a public interest litigation filed by the Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham sought a law similar to those enacted in Maharashtra and Karnataka to prohibit harmful rituals conducted in the name of supernatural powers. The PIL, first filed in 2022, was dismissed in June 2023 due to the absence of representation from the petitioner. It was later restored, prompting the High Court to seek the government's latest stance. The Yuktivadi Sangham, in its plea, has stated that the Law Reforms Commission, headed by Justice K T Thomas, had submitted a comprehensive report to the State of Kerala in the year 2019, with legislative recommendations based on new social conditions. "The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill-2019, is one of the recommended statutes. But so far, no attempt has been made on the part of the state on the matter," the organisation has claimed. The plea was filed in 2022 in the wake of a ritual human sacrifice of two women in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala by three people, including a couple. The petition has claimed that the states of Kerala and Maharashtra have passed laws against sorcery and black magic. It has also sought a declaration that "films on big screens and OTT platforms, and several serials and other telefilms, aired on television channels and YouTube, having content of superstitious beliefs, including sorcery and occult practices, exempting those having good intentions and having good artistic values, are illegal". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala HC seeks state govt's views on demand for legislation against black magic
Kochi: High court has directed the state govt to file an affidavit stating its position on the demand for legislation against inhuman and evil practices, including black magic. The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji issued the directive in a petition filed by the Kerala Yukthivadhi Sangham and adjourned the matter to June 24. When the matter was taken up in Oct 2022, the state attorney had submitted that the govt was contemplating legislation on the subject. However, the petitioner pointed out that no further steps had been taken since then. The Sangham urged the enforcement of legislation prohibiting the practice of black magic, witchcraft, sorcery and other inhumane practices carried out under the guise of supernatural powers. The petition was filed in 2022, following the incident of twin human sacrifices in Pathanamthitta. Subsequently, in April 2024, three individuals, Naveen Thomas and his wife Devi Madhavan, both natives of Kottayam, and their friend Arya Nair from Thiruvananthapuram, were found dead with cut marks on their wrists. It was speculated that they had taken their own lives while engaging in black magic rituals. In the petition, the Sangham referred to the 2019 Law Reforms Commission report submitted by Justice K T Thomas, which recommended the enactment of the Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery, and Black Magic Bill, 2019. The petition also sought a declaration that no person shall, either directly or through another, commit, promote, propagate, or practise, or cause to be promoted, propagated, or practised, human sacrifice or other inhuman, evil, and barbaric practices, including black magic.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Kerala High Court Asks State If It Contemplates Law Against Black Magic
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has sought the state government's stand regarding its earlier submission that it was contemplating legislation against evil practices like black magic and sorcery. The Kerala government had filed a submission in October 2022 while hearing a plea by an organisation called Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, which had sought the enactment of a law against such practices. The petition was dismissed in June 2023 due to no one representing the petitioner organisation, but was later restored. When the matter came up for hearing before a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji on June 3, the court directed the government to file an affidavit regarding the state's stand in respect of its earlier position that it was contemplating to enact a law on the subject. The bench posted the matter on June 24. The organisation, in its plea, has stated that the Law Reforms Commission, headed by Justice (retired) KT Thomas, had submitted a comprehensive report to the State of Kerala in the year 2019, with legislative recommendations based on new social conditions. "The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill-2019, is one of the recommended statutes. But so far, no attempt has been made on the part of the state on the matter," the organisation has claimed. The plea was filed in 2022 in the wake of a ritual human sacrifice of two women in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala by three people, including a couple. The petition has claimed that laws against sorcery and black magic have been passed by the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. It has also sought a declaration that "films on big screens and OTT platforms, and several serials and other telefilms, aired on television channels and YouTube, having content of superstitious beliefs, including sorcery and occult practices, exempting those having good intentions and having good artistic values, are illegal".
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kerala HC asks state govt if it contemplates law against sorcery, black magic
Kochi, The Kerala High Court has sought the state government's stand regarding its earlier submission that it was contemplating legislation against evil practices like black magic and sorcery. The Kerala government had filed a submission in October 2022 while hearing a plea by an organisation called Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, which had sought the enactment of a law against such practices. The petition was dismissed in June 2023 due to no one representing the petitioner organisation, but was later restored. When the matter came up for hearing before a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji on June 3, the court directed the government to file an affidavit regarding the state's stand in respect of its earlier position that it was contemplating to enact a law on the subject. The bench posted the matter on June 24. The organisation, in its plea, has stated that the Law Reforms Commission, headed by Justice K T Thomas, had submitted a comprehensive report to the State of Kerala in the year 2019, with legislative recommendations based on new social conditions. "The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill-2019, is one of the recommended statutes. But so far, no attempt has been made on the part of the state on the matter," the organisation has claimed. The plea was filed in 2022 in the wake of a ritual human sacrifice of two women in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala by three people, including a couple. The petition has claimed that laws against sorcery and black magic have been passed by the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. It has also sought a declaration that "films on big screens and OTT platforms, and several serials and other telefilms, aired on television channels and YouTube, having content of superstitious beliefs, including sorcery and occult practices, exempting those having good intentions and having good artistic values, are illegal".
