Karnataka Assembly passes Anti-superstition Bill

Bengaluru: The State Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017, popularly known as the ‘anti-superstition’ Bill, with minor changes.

While stamping of mudra on the body, a practice in the upper caste community (Madhwa Brahmins), has been exempted from the ban, advertisements that offer miracle cures for diseases have been banned.In his reply, Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya said all suggestions given by members would be considered while formulating rules to the Act.

The Opposition leaders welcomed the Bill and suggested that more attention should be given to creating awareness about prevailing superstitions in various lower caste communities.Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar, C.T. Ravi, S. Suresh Kumar, Govind Karjol (all BJP); Y.S.V. Datta, H.D. Kumaraswamy, H.D. Revanna (all JD-S) spoke on the Bill and offered suggestions.