The Supreme Court of India NEW DELHI: More than 75 years of the Constitution coming into force, the derogatory practice of witch-hunting that targets defenceless women due to prejudice, suspicion, superstition and irrational fear, continues in the country, the Supreme Court lamented while upholding life term for two who murdered a woman in a tribal village of Odisha in Feb 1998.A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria said the facets of the case had a disturbing impact on the court as a defenceless woman was branded a practitioner of witchcraft and was brutally assaulted in front of her daughter. “What effect it must have had on the daughter of the deceased who had to witness her mother being killed in the most brutal way,” the bench wondered.Writing the judgment, Justice Mishra said the malady of with-hunting continues to plague sections of our society, where prejudice, superstition, and irrational dear supersede the rule of law and constitutional morality.“The brutality associated with witch-hunting extends far beyond the act of killing; where victims mostly women are subjected to torture, beatings, sexual violence and social ostracization. In such a situation, superstitious beliefs or fears are given precedence leading to vulnerable women becoming victims of collective hostility,” he said.IN Feb 1998, in the remote village of tribal inhabited Sundergarh district, one Manobodha Naik’s daughter died, and family members claimed that she died because of witchcraft practice of one Puni Naik. Hearing this Udai Oram dragged Puni Naik to Naik’s house and with his associate, mercilessly assaulted her with sticks leading to her death. The trial court had convicted the duo in 2002, but the Orissa HC took two decades to uphold the conviction and life sentence.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesJustices Mishra and Anjaria said, “Sometimes in the most difficult situations, it often becomes an easy escape to blame a woman for the acts she did not commit, thus reflecting a deeply rooted social prejudice that often seeks scapegoats rather than solutions. In such situations, what can be given an ascendency is ‘reason’ for reason is the only virtue that stands as a bulwark against collective irrationality.”SC said the Constitution guarantees equality, promotes fraternity and envisages citizens to adopt scientific temperament to rid the society of derogatory practices against women. “Despite this, practices such as witch-hunting continue to persist within a few sections of our society. A Constitutional democracy such as ours cannot survive; wherein such derogatory practices continue to elude the principles of rule of law and Constitutional morality,” it said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli123PhotostoriesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke
NEW DELHI: More than 75 years of the Constitution coming into force, the derogatory practice of witch-hunting that targets defenceless women due to prejudice, suspicion, superstition and irrational fear, continues in the country, the Supreme Court lamented while upholding life term for two who murdered a woman in a tribal village of Odisha in Feb 1998.A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria said the facets of the case had a disturbing impact on the court as a defenceless woman was branded a practitioner of witchcraft and was brutally assaulted in front of her daughter. “What effect it must have had on the daughter of the deceased who had to witness her mother being killed in the most brutal way,” the bench wondered.Writing the judgment, Justice Mishra said the malady of with-hunting continues to plague sections of our society, where prejudice, superstition, and irrational dear supersede the rule of law and constitutional morality.“The brutality associated with witch-hunting extends far beyond the act of killing; where victims mostly women are subjected to torture, beatings, sexual violence and social ostracization. In such a situation, superstitious beliefs or fears are given precedence leading to vulnerable women becoming victims of collective hostility,” he said.IN Feb 1998, in the remote village of tribal inhabited Sundergarh district, one Manobodha Naik’s daughter died, and family members claimed that she died because of witchcraft practice of one Puni Naik. Hearing this Udai Oram dragged Puni Naik to Naik’s house and with his associate, mercilessly assaulted her with sticks leading to her death. The trial court had convicted the duo in 2002, but the Orissa HC took two decades to uphold the conviction and life sentence.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Justices Mishra and Anjaria said, “Sometimes in the most difficult situations, it often becomes an easy escape to blame a woman for the acts she did not commit, thus reflecting a deeply rooted social prejudice that often seeks scapegoats rather than solutions. In such situations, what can be given an ascendency is ‘reason’ for reason is the only virtue that stands as a bulwark against collective irrationality.”SC said the Constitution guarantees equality, promotes fraternity and envisages citizens to adopt scientific temperament to rid the society of derogatory practices against women. “Despite this, practices such as witch-hunting continue to persist within a few sections of our society. A Constitutional democracy such as ours cannot survive; wherein such derogatory practices continue to elude the principles of rule of law and Constitutional morality,” it said.
