Bare Act
The Chhattisgarh tonahi Pratadna Nivaran Act, 2005
General200516 sections
This Chhattisgarh law criminalizes the identification of individuals as "Tonahi," meaning a person accused of harming others through black magic or sorcery. It applies statewide and punishes those who falsely accuse others, harass them, or claim magical powers to cure, control, or inflict harm. The legislation is designed to protect public tranquility and stop violence rooted in superstition. By treating such offenses as cognizable crimes, it ensures that victims receive compensation from offenders' fines and that those involved face imprisonment, effectively curbing social stigma and physical abuse linked to false claims.
- 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
- 2. Definitions.
- 3. Act not in derogation of any other law.
- 4. Punishment for Identifying Tonahi.
- 5. Punishment for harassment.
- 6. Punishment for alleged curing.
- 7. Punishment for claiming to be tonahi.
- 8. Punishment for attempt to commit offence.
- 9. Trial of offences under the Act.
- 10. Offences to be cognizable and nonbailable.
- 11. Application of Section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958.
- 12. Matters to be taken into consideration for fixing fine.
- 13. Order for Compensation.
- 14. Bar of Jurisdiction.
- 15. Protection of Action taken in good faith.
- 16. Power to make Rule.
PDF: pending for this language.