The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the continued prevalence of witch-hunting in sections of Indian society, observing that superstition, irrational fear and deep-rooted prejudice can still eclipse the rule of law and constitutional morality.
The observations were made by a Bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria while dismissing an appeal filed by Balku Oram, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1998 murder of Puni Naik in Odisha. The Court found that the victim had been branded as a practitioner of witchcraft before being subjected to a brutal assault that ultimately resulted in her death.
The Bench said the circumstances surrounding the crime had deeply disturbed its conscience, particularly as the victim was a defenseless woman who was labelled a witch and killed in front of her daughter.
The Court noted that witch-hunting is not confined to the act of killing. Women accused of witchcraft may also be subjected to physical torture, beatings, sexual violence and social ostracisation. According to the Court, such incidents demonstrate how irrational beliefs and collective hostility can place vulnerable members of society at grave risk.
The Bench emphasised that despite constitutional values and the constitutional mandate to promote scientific temper, superstitious practices continue to survive. It observed that blaming women for misfortunes or unexplained events often becomes an easy means of finding a scapegoat instead of addressing the actual cause of a problem.
The Supreme Court stressed that reason remains an essential safeguard against collective irrationality. It underscored the need for social attitudes to remain aligned with constitutional morality rather than being dictated by superstition, fear or entrenched prejudice.
The Court’s observations came against the backdrop of a murder committed nearly three decades ago. The prosecution case was that the deceased had been accused of practising witchcraft and was attacked on that allegation. The Supreme Court, while examining the appellant’s challenge to his conviction, ultimately found no ground to interfere with the findings of guilt and the life sentence imposed upon him.
The judgment serves as a strong reminder that criminal violence rooted in superstition cannot be viewed merely as an isolated social aberration. The Court highlighted the broader constitutional concern arising when irrational beliefs are permitted to determine the treatment of individuals, particularly women who are vulnerable to being branded as witches.
The Supreme Court’s remarks also underline the constitutional obligation to foster a culture based on reason, dignity and equality, where superstition cannot be allowed to displace legal protections or justify violence against vulnerable persons.
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