BANGALORE: Thirteen rituals have been classified as evil practices and will attract severe punishment, including the death sentence for human sacrifice , according to the anti-superstition draft legislation.

The bill , which envisages the creation of a Karnataka Anti-Superstition Authority, lists practices such as siddubhukti, maata, okuli, bettale seve, panktibheda and made snana as criminal offences. Also, future predictions that result in harm such as stigmatization of a person or severe financial loss are also deemed non-cognizable offences.

The Karnataka Prevention of Superstitious Practices Bill, 2013 proposes the death sentence for human sacrifice in the name of black magic. The Bill also seeks to penalize broadcast, propagation or promotion in any manner of superstitious practices.

"We have tried to define superstitious practices as those that cause grave physical or mental harm, financial or sexual exploitation or offends human dignity," said Prof S Japhet, director, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP), National Law School of India University.

NLSIU was tasked with preparing the anti-superstition bill by chief minister Siddaramaiah after Maharashtra enacted the Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacri?ce and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Ordinance following the killing of Pune-based rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

"The draft has been prepared after rigorous research and several rounds of consultations with eminent thinkers and legal experts within and outside Karnataka for about a month," Japhet said.

CM wants to table the bill during winter session

Siddaramaiah said he'll try to table the bill in winter session in Belgaum scheduled to start on November 25. "We have to get rid of superstitious practices. There is already a law on this in Maharashtra; our government is serious about enacting a similar law here. Advocate general Ravivarma Kumar has been asked to examine the draft," he said.

Panel members

G Ramakrishna, K Marulasiddappa, Siddalingaiah, Nitin Ramesh, Srijoni, Sanhita, Aravind Malagatti, AS Nataraj, CS Hanumanthappa, Vasundara Bhupathi, BT Lalitha Nayak, VS Sreedhara and S Japhet. Rituals considered evil

Human sacrifice, adopting violent methods to cure diseases, proclaiming to have possessed godly and spiritual powers, promising to provide solution after monetary consideration, throwing babies on a bed of thorns to cure diseases, and keeping pregnant and menstrual women aloof.

