Gujarat High Court asks State to publicise, implement new law to curb black magic

The Gujarat High Court on Friday urged the State government to publicise and swiftly implement the recently passed law against 'black magic' and other such superstitious or inhumane practices in the State [Akhil Bhartiya Andhashraddha Nirmool Samiti & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors.]..A Bench of Chief Justice (CJ) Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi said that it expects the State to implement the law, namely the Gujarat Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2024, as soon as possible."Section 11 of the said Act provides for making of the rules by the State government to carry out the purposes of the Act. It is expected the rules to carry out purposes of the Act in accordance with Section 11 would be promulgated with the shortest possible time", the Court said.It also asked the State to carry out media publicity of the new legislation so that people are aware of the protection granted under the Act."We also require that the State government shall give due publicity to the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder through all means of communication namely electronic and print media such as newspapers, social media handle of the State government, Doordarshan etc. over sufficient period of time so that people of the State are aware of the protection granted to them under the Act," the Court's order said. .The Court passed the order on a plea by a public trust called the Akhil Bhartiya Andhashraddha Nirmool Samiti (petitioner) which has been working to sensitize people to reject such superstitious and inhumane practices. The petitioner had raised the issue of unlawful 'tantrik' activities in the State, submitting that there were fraudsters acting as Godmen, aghori, ojhas, bhuvas, etc. The petitioner raised concern that in their tantrik rituals, such people even sacrificed young children and females.By an order passed on July 7, this year, the Court had sought the response of the State government regarding the lack of any legislation in the State to curb such 'black magic' practices and other inhumane activities such as aghori practices..Today, the Court noted that the State has now introduced a new law to curb such activities. The Gujarat Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2024 was notified on September 2 in the Official Gazette after the State unanimously passed a Bill in this regard on August 21. The Act has been introduced with the aim to protect the public against "evil and sinister practices thriving on ignorance" and to "eradicate human sacrifice and other inhuman, evil, sinister and Aghori practices propagated in the name of so-called supernatural or magical powers or evil spirits commonly known as black magic by conmen."The Court today expressed hope that the provisions of the Act will be implemented in its true letter and spirit..Advocate Harsh K Rawal appeared for the petitioner, the Akhil Bhartiya Andhashraddha Nirmool Samiti. Government Pleader GH Virk represented the State of Gujarat. .[Read Legislation].[Read July 7 Order]