Vidhi Codex

The Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982

The Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982

General198213 sections

The Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982, bans the traditional practice of dedicating females of any age to temples or deities within the Indian state of Karnataka. The law applies to anyone who performs, abets, or permits these dedications, with family members receiving stricter punishments. This legislation matters because it protects vulnerable women from systemic exploitation and explicitly restores their legal right to marry regardless of custom. It also establishes specialized enforcement officers and mandates government rehabilitation programs, providing survivors with temporary shelter, counseling, and developmental loans to help them achieve economic independence and safely reintegrate into local society.

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  1. 1. THE KARNATAKA DEVADASIS (PROHIBITION OF DEDICATION) ACT, 1982.
  2. 2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
  3. 3. Dedication as devadasi to be unlawful
  4. 3A. Power of district magistrate or executive magistrate to issue injunction prohibiting dedication.
  5. 3B. Rescue, care, protection, welfare and rehabilitation of woman.- The
  6. 3C. Offences to be cognizable and nonbailable
  7. 3D. Appointment of Devadasi Dedication Prohibition Officer.- (1) The
  8. 3E. Devadasi Dedication Prohibition Officers to be public servants.-
  9. 4. Marriage of devadasi
  10. 5. Penalty
  11. 6. Protection of action taken in good faith
  12. 7. Power to make rules :- (1) The State Government may, after previous
  13. 8. Repeal

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