Overview

• The Kerala cabinet decided on July 5, 2023, not to proceed with the draft ‘Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2022’ despite recommendations from the Law Reforms Commission.
• A PIL by Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, filed after a 2022 ritual human sacrifice in Pathanamthitta, seeks a ban on harmful superstitious rituals akin to laws in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• The High Court criticised the government’s failure to act on the Law Reforms Commission’s 2019 statute recommendation and asked what other steps would be taken.
• The court ordered the Home Secretary to file a detailed affidavit outlining non-legislative measures to curb black magic and sorcery within three weeks.
• The petition also requests a declaration that media promoting superstitious beliefs is illegal, exempting content with genuine artistic value.