The Assam government introduced the ‘Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024’ in the state assembly with the goal of eradicating non-scientific healing practices with ulterior motives of exploiting innocent people and thus destroying the fabric of society’s public health.
Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika introduced the bill before the state legislature on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also serves in the Home and Political Departments.
The proposed measure intends to criminalize the bad practice of magical healing by any individual with a nefarious purpose of exploiting ordinary people, making it a cognizable and non-bailable offense punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
What does the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024 state?
The new bill intends to bring social awakening to society and promote health. Promoting science-based knowledge and a safe environment to protect human health from harmful practices that exploit ignorance and ill-health. Eliminating non-scientific heating practices that exploit innocent people and undermine public health.
“As per the bill, no person shall take any part in healing practices and magical healing propagation for treatment of any diseases, any disorder, or any condition relating to the health of a person (relating to the human body) directly or indirectly giving false impressions of treatment to cure diseases, pain or trouble to the human health.
No person shall take any part in any sort of advertisement relating to any kind of medicine, or remedy, directly or indirectly relating to any false claim to cure diseases through healing practices. The commission of any act of inhuman, evil or magical healing or propagation or promotion of such practices or black magic acts by any person himself or through another person shall be an offense under the provisions of this bill and is punishable,” the new bill states.
What are the Punishments, according to the new Bill passed?
Section 3 of the law empowers the government to prohibit wicked or magical healing methods for the treatment of specific diseases and health conditions. Section 4 of the law gives the government authority to prohibit deceptive ads for such activities.
Section 5 of the law states that the government may impose penalties for any conduct or encouragement of such acts. According to Section 6, the punishment might include imprisonment for up to three years, a ₹50,000 fine, or both. Repeated violations can result in up to five years in prison, a fine of ₹1 lakh, or both.
