Kerala HC seeks state govt's views on demand for legislation against black magic
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.
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