Pune: The Maharashtra Social Justice Department on Monday refuted allegations that the state committee tasked with monitoring the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act has been inactive for the past four years.Responding to a query in the Legislative Council by MLCs Satyajeet Tambe and Sunil Shinde, social justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat denied claims that the “publicity and awareness committee”—constituted under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013—had failed to hold meetings during this period.The legislators had alleged that despite the law being in force for over a decade, the committee had not met in four years. They argued that administrative apathy and the panel’s inactivity had led to a rise in fraudulent godmen, occult practices, and even human sacrifice attempts across the state.The MLCs further contended that although the committee was reconstituted on March 2, 2022, it remained “virtually defunct” due to the indifference of its ex-officio chairperson and secretary. They sought to know if the govt would fix accountability, revive the panel, and mandate quarterly meetings to promote scientific temper.Rejecting these claims, Shirsat maintained that the implementation of the anti-superstition law is reviewed regularly. He informed the House that between 2022 and 2026, the govt conducted 29 divisional-level and 181 district-level meetings to monitor the legislation’s progress.In light of these statistics, the minister stated that the question of “reviving” the panel or taking action against officials did not arise.Shirsat added that the govt continues to run extensive awareness campaigns to educate citizens and discourage superstitious practices. These initiatives include street plays, bharuds, kirtans, rallies, and workshops, along with dedicated outreach through social media and traditional newspapers.
