prasad1
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Any religious rite which causes pain, suffering and affects the dignity of a person cannot be justified even it has been followed for a very long period, and should be considered inhuman attracting penal punishment, the Madras high court has said.
Justice N Anand Venkateshmade the observation while partly allowing an appeal moved by four women punished by a trial court for their involvement in the exorcism of their daughter-in-law.
“A strong message must be sent to society that cruel acts in the name of religious rite will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely by courts. It is time that courts send a strong message to the society that such grotesque acts will not be tolerated, and courts will not turn a blind eye when such incidents are brought to its notice,” Justice Venkatesh said.
The issue pertains to a revision petition from Chinnaponnu and three others, who were punished by judicial magistrate II,Dharmapuri to undergo one-year rigorous imprisonment. On July 30, 2010, the principal sessions judge, Dharmapuri confirmed the order.
According to prosecution, the daughter-in-law of the accused was forcibly taken to Thoppiyar Dam at midnight on February 12, 2001, stripped of her clothes, and had her head shaved and her tongue branded with a red-hot needle.
Hermangalsutrawas removed but was later fastened again by her husband, who was present. All this was done on the allegation that she was possessed by an evil spirit.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-are-inhuman-says-hc/articleshow/64655521.cms
Justice N Anand Venkateshmade the observation while partly allowing an appeal moved by four women punished by a trial court for their involvement in the exorcism of their daughter-in-law.
“A strong message must be sent to society that cruel acts in the name of religious rite will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely by courts. It is time that courts send a strong message to the society that such grotesque acts will not be tolerated, and courts will not turn a blind eye when such incidents are brought to its notice,” Justice Venkatesh said.
The issue pertains to a revision petition from Chinnaponnu and three others, who were punished by judicial magistrate II,Dharmapuri to undergo one-year rigorous imprisonment. On July 30, 2010, the principal sessions judge, Dharmapuri confirmed the order.
According to prosecution, the daughter-in-law of the accused was forcibly taken to Thoppiyar Dam at midnight on February 12, 2001, stripped of her clothes, and had her head shaved and her tongue branded with a red-hot needle.
Hermangalsutrawas removed but was later fastened again by her husband, who was present. All this was done on the allegation that she was possessed by an evil spirit.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-are-inhuman-says-hc/articleshow/64655521.cms