The Odisha government is developing a robust anti-witch-hunting policy aimed at addressing the ongoing issue of witch hunts in the state. This initiative includes the establishment of special courts to expedite legal proceedings, ensuring time-bound trials for accused individuals, and providing immediate rescue and rehabilitation services for victims. Additionally, the policy emphasizes accountability for police officers who neglect to register or adequately investigate complaints related to witch hunts.
HT has reviewed the draft of the policy. “Under the proposed policy, the state will establish special courts and deploy trained prosecutors to ensure time-bound trials for witch-hunting cases. The policy proposes round-the-clock response mechanisms, systematic case tracking, and action against officials who fail to register or properly investigate complaints. It also recommends special procedures during evidence recording to minimise trauma for victims and witnesses, who can also be covered under the state’s Witness Protection Scheme for safe relocation. Additionally, Gram Panchayat Social Justice Standing Committees will serve as the primary vigilance mechanism to detect early signs of witch-branding and alert district officials.
The draft Odisha State Policy for Witch-Hunting (Prevention, Protection and Prosecution), 2026, prepared by the Women and Child Development Department, aims to step up prevention, guarantee immediate rescue for victims, and accelerate legal proceedings across rural and tribal regions. Cases will be registered under the Odisha Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 2013, alongside provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and, where applicable, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” said an official associated with drafting the policy. The policy comes a year after the Odisha State Law Commission recommended major amendments to the existing Odisha Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 2013, which had failed to address root causes such as social exclusion, property disputes, irrational beliefs, and institutional failures.
Placing more emphasis on pre-emptive intervention before accusations in villages result in violence, the policy says authorities will map vulnerable villages and mobilise Gram Sabhas, schools, self-help groups, and frontline health workers to counter superstition and build scientific awareness. Another official associated with the policy drafting said the practice of witchcraft is not simply a manifestation of superstition but a structural problem linked to poverty, patriarchy, social exclusion, weak access to healthcare, land conflicts and lack of scientific awareness.
