.png){kind=small}
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
1 week ago
9
The State Cabinet on Thursday approved 18 Bills, including the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2025, and Greater Bengaluru (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The Bill envisages strengthening the fight against the century-old Devadasi system and seeks to replace the older Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition and Dedication) Act, 1982.
Terming it as a welfare Bill, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, H.K. Patil, said it would ensure that the children of Devadasis are treated with respect.
The proposed legislation also provides the option for children of a Devadasi not to be compelled to declare the name of their father while applying for government identity cards such as passport, PAN, Aadhaar, and driving licence.
The proposed Bill runs into 20 pages and includes provisions for recognising the right of Devadasi children to identify their father, potentially through DNA testing, and removing the requirement of a father’s name on official documents.
It would liberate the oppressed Devadasis from all sorts of exploitation, Mr. Patil said.
The Bill is intended to be a more comprehensive approach for addressing the Devadasi system, moving beyond the previous focus on prohibition to include relief and rehabilitation measures, Mr. Patil said.
Devadasis and their children have long been seeking comprehensive legislation that could end the evil system and provide proper relief and rehabilitation.
Other Bills approved by Karnataka Cabinet
1. Karnataka Town and Country Planning and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill - for appointment of the Commissioner
2. The Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation for Protection of Sources of Drinking Water) Amendment) Bill - for adopting the Central Government guidelines
3. Gadag-Betageri Business Culture and Exhibition Authority (Amendment) Bill - for replacing the ordinance and for appointing office-bearers for the authority
4. Karnataka Ports (Landing and Shipping Fees) (Amendment) Bill - for revising the fees once in three years
5. Karnataka Land Reforms And Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill - for amending certain sections of Land Revenue and Land Reforms Acts
6. Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance (Amendment) Bill - to substitute the words the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha, 2023 (Central Act 2023)
7. Karnataka Conduct of Government Litigation (Amendment) Bill - for compliance with court orders and to fix responsibility for advocates
8. Karnataka Compliance Decriminalisation Amendment of Provisions Bill - for decriminalising and rationalising offences to further enhance trust-based governance for ease of doing business
9. Karnataka Municipalities and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill - for incorporating the recommendations of the Government of India for compliance reduction and deregulation; simplifying the procedure for granting approvals of building plans
10. The Registration Bill to ensure due diligence in public interest is undertaken by the Sub-Registrar at the time of registration of property; property software will be integrated to prevent illegal registration of properties in urban areas, also and to simplify property registration
11. Karnataka Tourism Trade (Facilitation and Regulation) (A) Bill - for establishing the district-level monitoring committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner
12. Municipal Corporation Bill - for levying of imposts, restrictions and conditions
13. Karnataka Co-operative Bill - for incorporating suggestions given by the Governor
14. Karnataka Souharda Bill - for incorporating suggestions given by the Governor
15. Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (Amendment) Bill - for making mandatory the minimum age of 40 years for the chairperson and 35 years for members
16. Karnataka Urban and Rural Programme and Other Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2025 - to set up a separate Commissionerate and bring under it urban development authorities
17. The Greater Bengaluru (Amendment) Bill - for preparing the electoral roll in each city corporations.
English (US) ·