Sale of miraculous supernatural items via television banned

The Bombay High Court directive to the Centre and state government came on a petition that sought to ban the promotion of articles like the "Hanuman Chalisa Yantra".  

In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court has declared as illegal the sale of items that claim to possess miraculous or supernatural powers via television channels.   The high court directive to the Centre and state government came on a petition that sought to ban the promotion of articles like the "Hanuman Chalisa Yantra".   The petition claimed that such articles propagated superstition by claiming to have miraculous and supernatural properties. It also contended that false propaganda was being spread through electronic media to exploit people like students and businessmen.

In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court has declared as illegal the sale of items that claim to possess miraculous or supernatural powers via television channels.

The high court directive to the Centre and state government came on a petition that sought to ban the promotion of articles like the "Hanuman Chalisa Yantra".

The petition claimed that such articles propagated superstition by claiming to have miraculous and supernatural properties. It also contended that false propaganda was being spread through electronic media to exploit people like students and businessmen.

In its order, the Bombay High Court said that it is illegal to telecast advertisement which "propagates any the sale of articles by attaching the name of any God with representation that these articles have special, miraculous and supernatural properties/qualities and makes representation that these articles will help human beings to be happy or make progress in business or career or improvement in performance in education or recovery from any disease".   The court noted that such actions were illegal under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.   While directing the Centre and state government to file an action taken report within 30 days, the court directed that action be taken against the television channels which violate the directive. 

In its order, the Bombay High Court said that it is illegal to telecast advertisement which "propagates any the sale of articles by attaching the name of any God with representation that these articles have special, miraculous and supernatural properties/qualities and makes representation that these articles will help human beings to be happy or make progress in business or career or improvement in performance in education or recovery from any disease".

The court noted that such actions were illegal under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

While directing the Centre and state government to file an action taken report within 30 days, the court directed that action be taken against the television channels which violate the directive.