In a significant development, the Kerala High Court has sought a detailed status report from the State government regarding the enactment of a law to curb black magic, sorcery, and inhuman rituals. The move comes in the wake of a revived public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Kerala Yukthi Vadi Sanghom, which had earlier been dismissed due to non-appearance.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji passed the directive on June 3, asking the State to file an affidavit clarifying whether legislation on the matter is still under consideration.
“Let an affidavit be filed by the Senior Secretary of the concerned department as to the stand of the State in respect of the above position,” the Court stated, while listing the matter for further hearing on June 24.
The Court recalled that during an earlier hearing on October 18, 2022, the State Attorney had informed that the government was contemplating such a law. The current order seeks an update on that statement.
The plea, originally filed following a gruesome human sacrifice case in Kerala, urged the State to enact a law akin to those already in force in Maharashtra and Karnataka. It also called for action on the 2019 recommendations of the Kerala Law Reforms Commission, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice KT Thomas. The Commission had drafted the Kerala Prevention of Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2019, but the State has yet to take action on it.
Apart from legislation, the petitioner also sought a probe into missing persons cases spanning the last five decades, stricter regulation of media content promoting superstition, and better enforcement of existing laws such as the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the issues raised, the Court opted to revive the petition despite its earlier dismissal in June 2023 for repeated non-representation.
The matter will next be heard on June 24.
Case: Kerala Yukthi Vadi Sanghom vs Union of India and ors – Available on LAWFYI.IO
