Kochi: The Kerala High Court has sought the state government's official stand on its previously stated intention to enact legislation aimed at curbing black magic and sorcery.

The court directive came on June 3, when a division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji heard a matter related to an earlier plea filed by Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham. The bench instructed the state to file an affidavit detailing its position on its 2022 submission and posted the matter for further hearing on June 24.

Petition revived after dismissal

The plea, originally filed in 2022, was dismissed in June 2023 after no representative from the petitioner organisation appeared. However, the matter was later restored for hearing.

Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, in its petition, highlighted that the Law Reforms Commission—chaired by retired Justice K T Thomas—had submitted a report in 2019, recommending legislation in light of emerging social conditions.

2019 bill yet to be acted upon

Among the proposals made by the Commission was the Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill-2019. “But so far, no attempt has been made on the part of the state on the matter,” the organisation claimed in its plea.

Linked to ritual killings in Pathanamthitta

The petition was submitted shortly after a shocking incident in Pathanamthitta, where two women were killed in a ritual human sacrifice by three individuals, including a couple.

Plea seeks declaration against media content

In addition to seeking action on legislation, the petition also requested a declaration that “films on big screens and OTT platforms, and several serials and other telefilms, aired on television channels and YouTube, having content of superstitious beliefs, including sorcery and occult practices, exempting those having good intentions and having good artistic values, are illegal.”

The plea also pointed out that similar laws have already been passed in Maharashtra and Karnataka.