Taking note of the "evil" practices of branding women as 'Dayan' (witch) and 'Mautana', Rajasthan High Court today asked the state government to enact a law against them by February 11, 2015 or the court will declare Rajasthan a backward state.
A Division Bench headed by acting Chief Justice Sunil Ambwani, while disposing off the suo motto petition, considered the two traditions as "malice to the civilised society" and observed that it cannot be allowed to exist in a progressive state.
A government counsel said that the court has sought data on the practice in the state after taking into account growing incidences.
The Bench asked the state government to enact a law in this regard by February 11, 2015 to avoid the state being declared a backward state.
The 'Mautana' tradition, literally the 'death money', prevalent predominantly in Rajasthan's Mewar region covering Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand and Udaipur districts, has created serious law and order situations recently.
Similarly, many women regardless of their age have been treated inhumanly by the fellow villagers branding them the 'Dayan' (witch).
Two weeks ago, a woman was held responsible for the death of a horse in a village in the state and was beaten up and made to march on donkey with face blackened.
