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Context:

The Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act 2024 aims to eradicate non-scientific healing practices that exploit innocent people and threaten public health.

About Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act 2024

The law defines "evil practices" as any healing or magic healing acts performed with sinister motives to exploit common people.

The term "healing and healing practices" is broadly defined as traditional holistic approaches to heal body, mind, and spirit, encompassing various systems, treatments, diagnoses, or practices for determining, curing, relieving, or correcting human diseases, ailments, deformities, injuries, or enhancing conditions or appearance.

Key Concerns and Criticisms

The broad definition of healing in the Act raises several concerns:

• It may inadvertently include established traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani, which are recognized and promoted by India's Ministry of Ayush.
• The law fails to clearly distinguish between religion and superstition, potentially infringing on fundamental religious rights.
• The ambiguous term "ulterior/sinister motive" creates uncertainty about the law's application.
• Without clear protections for faith-based rituals, practices integral to various cultures could be criminalized.

Comparison with Similar Laws in Other States

• Karnataka Prevention And Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017: Explicitly exempts religious practices from its purview.
• Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013: Distinguishes between harmful practices and religious rituals, focusing on physical harm and financial exploitation.

Way Forward

• Strengthening healthcare infrastructure to improve access to quality medical care.
• Promoting scientific awareness to address misconceptions about healing practices.
• Engaging with communities to address harmful practices while respecting cultural traditions.
• Developing clear definitions and exemptions to protect legitimate religious and traditional practices.

Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS

https://t.me/+hJqMV1O0se03Njk9