<p>Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM-led Left Democratic Front government in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala">Kerala</a> has decided against enacting a law to curb black magic, reportedly due to pressure from various religious groups. This comes despite several black magic-related deaths in the state.</p><p>On Tuesday, the state government informed the Kerala High Court that the Cabinet took a policy decision not to bring in legislation banning black magic, sorcery and other inhuman practices. </p><p>A few bills aimed at curbing black magic and sorcery have long gathered dust in Kerala. The 2022 murder of two women in Pathanamthitta district, allegedly for human sacrifice, brought renewed pressure on the Left Front government to enact a law.</p>.As Pakistan moves to ban black magic, astrologers see a bad omen.<p>'The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill' was proposed in 2019 by former Supreme Court judge Justice KT Thomas. It called for a ban on all practices that cause bodily harm. An earlier bill drafted in 2014 by former DGP A Hemachandran proposed three to seven years’ imprisonment for inflicting physical or mental injury through supernatural or black magic acts.</p><p>In an affidavit filed before a division bench of the Kerala High Court headed by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, the state government said the Council of Ministers had, after deliberations, decided on July 5, 2023, not to proceed with legislation to curb black magic and sorcery. The court subsequently asked the government to explain how it intends to prevent such practices in the absence of a law. The state was directed to file an affidavit within three weeks.</p><p>The decision follows concerns raised by various religious forums, who feared the proposed law could impact rituals observed by different faiths. CPM state secretary MV Govindan had earlier said that any law targeting superstition could prove to be a double-edged sword, and that the government was therefore proceeding with caution.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM-led Left Democratic Front government in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala">Kerala</a> has decided against enacting a law to curb black magic, reportedly due to pressure from various religious groups. This comes despite several black magic-related deaths in the state.</p><p>On Tuesday, the state government informed the Kerala High Court that the Cabinet took a policy decision not to bring in legislation banning black magic, sorcery and other inhuman practices. </p><p>A few bills aimed at curbing black magic and sorcery have long gathered dust in Kerala. The 2022 murder of two women in Pathanamthitta district, allegedly for human sacrifice, brought renewed pressure on the Left Front government to enact a law.</p>.As Pakistan moves to ban black magic, astrologers see a bad omen.<p>'The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill' was proposed in 2019 by former Supreme Court judge Justice KT Thomas. It called for a ban on all practices that cause bodily harm. An earlier bill drafted in 2014 by former DGP A Hemachandran proposed three to seven years’ imprisonment for inflicting physical or mental injury through supernatural or black magic acts.</p><p>In an affidavit filed before a division bench of the Kerala High Court headed by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, the state government said the Council of Ministers had, after deliberations, decided on July 5, 2023, not to proceed with legislation to curb black magic and sorcery. The court subsequently asked the government to explain how it intends to prevent such practices in the absence of a law. The state was directed to file an affidavit within three weeks.</p><p>The decision follows concerns raised by various religious forums, who feared the proposed law could impact rituals observed by different faiths. CPM state secretary MV Govindan had earlier said that any law targeting superstition could prove to be a double-edged sword, and that the government was therefore proceeding with caution.</p>