Highlights of Maharashtra anti-superstition ordinance

The Maharashtra government Wednesday decided to promulgate an ordinance to enact a long-pending bill to eradicate black magic, blind faith and superstitious beliefs, a day after anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead.

The new measure will empower the government to bring under its ambit:

* Social and religious evils

* Human or animal sacrifices

* Rituals to drive out evil spirits or ensure a male progeny, perpetrated by self-styled godmen, witchcraft and wizardry practitioners, often cheating the gullible public.