The Anti-Superstition Bill

The Karnataka State Cabinet approves the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017 — also known as the anti-superstition Bill
The Bill, if cleared by the State legislature, is expected to put an end to various inhuman practices such as black magic, witchcraft, or any act in the name of religion that causes harm to humans and animals

Bill seeks to ban:

The Bill also encompasses ban on human sacrifice; coercing a person to perform fire-walk at religious festivals; piercing jaw with rods, baibeega practice; pelting stones in the name of banamathi, mata-mantra; creating panic in the minds of the people by invoking ghost or mantras; claiming to perform surgery with fingers, or claiming to change the sex of foetus in the womb.
The controversial ‘made snana’ritual (devotees rolling over plantain leaves having food leftovers) in public/religious places. ‘Made snana’ is practised at Kukke Subrahmanya temple in Dakshina Kannada district, in violation of human dignity
Bill proposes to ban evil practices such as killing an animal by biting its neck (gaavu).
Making claims of healing power
Propagating practices that involve self-mutilation
Creating impression of ‘possession’ and exorcism
It also seeks to ban practices against women: forcing them to stay in isolation; subjecting them to inhuman and humiliating practices such as parading them naked in the name of worship (betthale save); and sexual exploitation by invoking supernatural powers.

Regulations for astrology and vaastu practice, piercing of ears and nose of children in accordance with certain rituals, and performance of religious rituals such as ‘Keshlochan’ by the Jains.
Acts such as Kesh Lochan (plucking of hair), vaastu and astrology have not been barred
The form of the worship such as Pradakshina, Yatra, Parikrama performed at religious places
Miracles of the deceased saints propagation, publicity and circulation of the same and the propagation, publicity and distribution of literature about miracles of the religious preachers which do not cause physical injury
Performance of prayers, upasana and religious rituals at home, temple, darghas, gurdwara, pagoda, church, and other religious places which do not cause physical injury

The Bill proposes the appointment of a vigilance officer to monitor violations of the provisions of the law and its rules.
Violators of the law will be penalised, with imprisonment of not less than one year and a fine of not less than 5,000.

Sources: The Hindu