Rajasthan passes bill against witch-hunting

The Rajasthan assembly on Thursday passed a bill that aims to provide for effective measures to tackle the menace of witch-hunting and witchcraft.

The Rajasthan Prevention of Witch-hunting Bill, 2015 entails a responsibility on the law and order machinery to take preventive measures against both the evils.

Presenting the bill in the assembly, Minister's of State for Women and Child Development Anita Bhadel said: "At present, there is no penal provision in the state's law to prohibit or punish the accused of witch-hunting and other similar practices."

"The proposed legislation aims at prohibition and prevention of witch-hunting and other similar practices. Thus, the bill will help in tackling the evil consequences and curbing crimes related or resulting from the practice of witch-hunting."

The penal provisions of the proposed legislation provides that every offence under it shall be cognizable and non-bailable.

The bill outlines that whoever indulges in witch-hunting shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to five years or with fine which shall not be less than Rs.50,000 or both.