HC issues notice to state on implementing anti-black magic law

Kolhapur: The Bombay High Court has directed the state govt to file an affidavit in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking notification of rules for implementation of the state's anti-black magic law.The petition concerns the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. The petitioners argued that though the Act was passed 12 years ago, the state govt was yet to frame the necessary rules, rendering the law a "toothless tiger."The PIL seeks a court mandate for immediate appointment and training of vigilance officers in every district. These officers, the petition suggests, should be specifically trained to handle cases involving sexual exploitation of women and girls under the guise of "spiritual rituals."The petition has sought directions to social media platforms to remove and delete videos featuring several women and girls with an individual identified as Ashok Kharat, alleging that the content is linked to prohibited practices.A bench comprising Justice Madhav Jamdar and Justice Pravin Patil noted the gravity of the matter in an order uploaded on April 23."It is the submission of the petitioners that practices prohibited under the said Act have come to light, indicating use of such prohibited practices. The issue raised is of considerable importance," the court observed. The bench has directed the assistant govt pleader (AGP) to file an affidavit in reply on or before April 28.The PIL was filed by a group of 11 individuals, including Seema Ramdas Patil, Abhishek Mithari, Pramodini Pramod Pungavkar, Manik Yadav, Prashant Sambhaji Ghondali, Asmita Dhananjay Dighe, Ramesh Vadangekar, Kiran Gavali, Balu Shahu Mali, Geeta Bharat Hasurkar, and Anil Annaso Chavan.