Bengaluru: The controversial Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifices and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill — better known as the Anti-Superstition Bill — 2016 has finally been cleared by the State Cabinet. After facing flak for putting the Bill on the backburner, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the Bill yesterday.

“The Bill has clear definitions on what is a belief. A belief is a voluntary faith in something that has scientific backing and a superstition is defined as a forced belief in practices that have no scientific relevance.

The scrutiny committee has cleared the Bill and we will table it in the upcoming Assembly session no matter what,” Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said. The Law Minister said that every point in the Bill will be thoroughly discussed during the     Assembly session.

The Bill has proposed to ban Made Snana, a ritual performed at the Kukke Subramanya Temple in Dakshina Kannada that involves people rolling over a banana leaf with food left over by Brahmins. It is believed by many to have cured skin diseases.

Which practices are proposed to be banned?

Performing any black magic, inhumane act and evil practices in search of treasure or bounty, tantric acts which include physical and sexual assault will be banned. Practices such as parading people naked, ostracising a person in the name of a ritual and encouraging inhumane acts during said rituals also come under the purview of the Bill.

Rituals of exorcism, assaulting people under the pretext of exorcism, misinformation and creating a panic-like situation under the pretext of ghosts and black magic will also be banned. Other practices such as making claims of having healing power, propagating practices that involve self-mutilation and coercing people to perform fire-walking will also be banned.

Which practices are not included?

Any form of worship including pradakshine, yatra, and parikrama at any religious shrines, Harikatha, keerthana, pravachana and bhajans does not come under the purview of the Bill.

Providing knowledge of ancient, arts and practices, speaking about miracles performed by deceased saints and literature on them offering prayers, upasana, religious rituals at places of worship or at people’s homes, religious celebrations, festivals, processions, piercing of ears and nose, shaving of head, astrology and Vaastu are considered acceptable under the Bill.

“The consent of the victim cannot be used as a defence for the list of offences committed by a person. It will be cognizable and non-bailable. Punishment will vary from two to five years imprisonment or fine or both,” Minister Jayachandra said.

However, the Bill does not cover regulations for astrology and Vaastu practice, piercing of ears and nose of children in accordance with certain rituals, and performance of religious rituals such as ‘Keshlochan’ by the Jains. But, it proposes to ban evil practices such as killing an animal by biting its neck (gaavu).

The approval of the Bill is being seen as fulfilling the commitment made by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to rationalists, writers, and activists who fought for a ban on superstitious practices.

The State Government had proposed the Karnataka Prevention of Superstitious Activities Bill in 2013, right after the Congress came to power in the State. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had promised to put an end to such practices during his election campaign.

Barring Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra, no other member of the Cabinet supported the Bill when it appeared for clearance in July 2016.

In February this year, it was decided that the Bill would be put on hold until the elections are over as many MLAs and even Ministers do not want to offend residents of their constituencies by passing it. They fear that it would hurt their sentiments. There were 23 practices listed in the original Bill and barring human sacrifice, most of them have been scrapped in the revised Bill.