Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat government has promised to bring in a law to curb the menace of black magic. This was in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in Gujarat High Court seeking a strict law against superstition and black magic in the state.

Deputy secretary of the Home Department filed an affidavit before the high court, stating that a bill will be introduced in the upcoming Gujarat Legislative Assembly session to curb inhuman activities carried out in the guise of superstition, black magic, and witchcraft.

According to the state government, “The Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013 is in existence in the state of Maharashtra, and similar laws are also in force in Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Assam.”

The government admitted in court that Gujarat does not currently have any law to curb black magic and inhuman activities.

A meeting was conducted on July 23, which saw the Gujarat Home secretary, additional chief secretary, Home department, additional director general (Law and Order), and additional director general (Criminal Investigation Department and Railways), discuss this matter in detail.

The PIL also raised concerns about the increasing incidents of superstition and black magic in Gujarat and the absence of any legal provisions to identify or prevent such practices.

Previously, the HC issued a notice to the state government and other concerned parties, including the additional chief secretary of the state’s home department, while hearing the  PIL on July 12.

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Why no anti-superstition laws in Gujarat? HC asks state