Chief Secretary, Government of UP, is directed to ensure that people in the area are educated and the practice of witchcraft, if any, be stopped by a determined effort so that the crimes of the like could be checked, in future.

The complainant Activist Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi, in his complaint dated 29-07-2017 drew the attention of the Commission to a newspaper article in which the panchayat within the jurisdiction of P.S. Manchi had declared a woman as a witch and also imposed a fine of Rs. 70,000/- on her. Alleging the action as illegal and violation of human rights of the victim, the Complainant sought intervention of the Commission for necessary action.

In response to the notice, a report dated 12.10.2017 was received from the Superintendent of Police, Sonbhadra. It was reported that an FIR No. 14/2017 dated 25.07.2017, U/Sec. 143/504/506 IPC was registered on the complaint of the present victim against the named accused persons. On enquiry, Section 3(2)5(a) SC/ST Act was also added in the said FIR. After investigation, the Investigating Officer submitted Charge-sheet vide No.14 dated 24.08.2017 in the Court.

Pursuant to the directions of the Commission, a report dated 22.12.2018 was received from the Superintendent of Police, Sonbhadra. It was intimated that in connection with the FIR No. 14/2017 dated 25.07.2017, U/Sec. 143/504/506/509 IPC & section 3(2)5a SC/ST Act, an amount of Rs. 75,000/- had been sanctioned as compensation to the victim by the District Welfare Officer on 14.11.2017 and Rs. 25,000/- was to be granted after the trial.

A copy of the report dated 22.12.2018 filed by the Superintendent of Police, Sonbhadra was transmitted to the complainant, calling for the comments, if any within four weeks.

In response to the same, the complainant in his reply with comments dt 18.8.2019 has enclosed a reply submitted by the victim.

 It is submitted that the victim in her reply has narrated the how she was treated in humanly by the named villager how she was abused by them and she was even threatened with imposition of a fine of Rs 70,000/-. Further, she was warranted that if she raised her voice against them she would be driven out of the village. Further he alleged that the local police had also misbehaved with her and did not take any action on her complaint. Thus he sought further intervention of the Commission for necessary direction to the DM and SP to create required awareness among the people of all the villages against the witchcraft and sorcery. Thus the complainant requested the Commission for a direction to the concerned authorities for regular Health Check up in the concerned villages so that the influence of black magic could be checked.

The Commission carefully considered the facts and circumstances of the case and took note of the materials on record, including the contents of the report dated 22-12-2018. Since the statutory assistance has been sanctioned, the DM Sonbhadra, UP, is directed ensure payment of the said amount to the victim at the earliest. Further it may be stated that Fyodor Dostoevsky in his characteristic wisdom said that since man cannot live without miracles he will provide himself with miracles of his own makings. He will believe in witchcraft and sorcery, even though, he may be otherwise heretic and an atheist and a rebel. These sorts of mindset are still prevalent in the society. The person who believes in such superstitions, suspects in some form is hell-bent upon demonising the innocent victims of their wrath and take revenge. In this background, the Chief Secretary, Government of UP, is directed to ensure that people in the area are educated and the practice of witchcraft, if any, be stopped by a determined effort so that the crimes of the like could be checked, in future. With this observation, the matter requires no further intervention of the Commission, accordingly the case is closed.