The Maharashtra Devdasi System (Abolition) Act, 2005

--- Section 1. Section 1.Short title, extent and commencement. --- ( 1 ) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Devdasi System (Abolition) Act, 2005. ( 2 ) It extends to the whole of the State of Maharashtra. ( 3 ) It shall come into force on such date 1 as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette , appoint. [Footnotes] 1 This Act was brought into force by G. N., W. and C.D.D., No. DEPUVI-2004/CR-16/D-2, dated the 29th March 2008, w.e.f. 31st March 2008. --- Section 2. Section 2.Definitions. --- In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise,- ( a ) "Control Board" mean the Devdasi Practice Control and Eradication Board established under section 5 ; (b) "dedication" means the performance of any act or ceremony by whatever name called, by which a woman is dedicated, voluntarily or otherwise, to the service of a Hindu deity, idol, object of worship, temple or religious institution as Devdasi or Jogtin or by any other name ; ( c ) "Devdasi" means a woman dedicated to a Hindu deity, idol, object of worship, temple or religious institution, named as Devdasi, Jogtin or by any other name; ( d ) " Devdasi Prevention Officer" means an officer appointed under section 10 ; ( e ) "District Committee" means a District Devdasi Practice Control Committee or Committees constituted under section 8 ; ( f ) "Government" means the Government of Maharashtra ; ( g ) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; ( h ) "temple" means a place by whatever name called dedicated to or used as a place of religious worship ; and (i) "woman" means a female human being of any age. --- Section 3. Section 3.Dedication as Devdasi unlawful. --- ( 1 ) Notwithstanding any custom, usage or law to the contrary whether before or after the commencement of this Act, dedication of a woman as Devdasi is prohibited and is hereby declared unlawful and to be of no effect. ( 2 ) Taking part in or abetting the performance of any such act or ceremony of dedication or any attempt or preparation for dedication of a woman as Devdasi or propagation of the practice of Devdasi is also hereby prohibited and declared unlawful. --- Section 4. Section 4.Marriage of Devdasi. --- ( 1 ) Notwithstanding any custom, usage, rule or any law to the contrary, no marriage contracted by a woman being a Devdasi shall be invalid and no issue of such marriage shall be illegitimate by reason only of such woman being a Devdasi . ( 2 ) Co-habitation by any man with a Devdasi as husband and wife for a reasonably long period under the same roof shall, prima facie , raise the presumption of legal and valid marriage subsisting between the two of them and any offspring of such co-habitants shall be legitimately entitled to have the hereditary right in the property of such couple, as per the personal law by which such persons are being governed. --- Section 5. Section 5.Control Board. --- ( 1 ) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette , establish for the State with effect from the date specified therein, a Board to be called the Devdasi Practice Control and Eradication Board (hereinafter referred to as "the Control Board"). ( 2 ) The Control Board shall consist of the following members, namely:- 1 [( a ) a person, who is or has been a Judge not below the rank of a Selection Grade District Judge, to be appointed by the Government in consultation with the High Court, or a person who is or has been an officer not below the rank of a Secretary to the Government, to be appointed by the Government ... ...Chairman]; (b) two other persons to assist the Chairman, who shall be the persons of ability, integrity and standing having adequate knowledge and experience of dealing with the problems relating to exploitation of women, to be nominated by the Government, of whom at least one shall be a woman, nominated in consultation with the State Womens Commission ... Members; ( c ) the Commissioner of Women and Child Development of Government... Ex-officio Member-Secretary. ( 3 ) The term of office of the members of the Control Board shall be of five years. ( 4 ) No act or proceeding of the Control Board shall be invalid by reason only of a vacancy therein, or any defect in nomination of any members, if such act or proceeding is otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Act. ( 5 ) Appointments made, from time to time, as members under clause (b) of sub-section ( 2 ) shall be published in the Official Gazette . ( 6 ) The Control Board shall meet at such time and place and shall observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of its business as the Chairman may think fit. ( 7 ) The non-official members nominated by the State Government under clause (b) of sub-section ( 2 ) shall receive such fees and allowances as may be prescribed. [Footnotes] 1 Clause ( a ) was substituted by Mah. 22 of 2013, s.2. --- Section 6. Section 6.Powers, functions and duties of Control Board. --- ( 1 ) The Control Board shall endeavour for achieving the objectives of this Act, and for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act, supervision of the working of the District Devdasi Practice Control Committees and the Devdasi Prevention Officers, and shall also study the various problems of Devdasis in the entire State and suggest to the Government various remedial or preventive measures which, in its opinion, need to be taken to effectively control and eradicate the practice of Devdasis in the State Board. ( 2 ) The Control Board shall, for the purposes of this Act have all the powers of a Civil Court while trying a civil suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely :- ( a ) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document; ( c ) receiving evidence on affidavits ; ( d ) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any Court or office ; ( e ) issuing Commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents ; and ( f ) such other matters as may be prescribed. ( 3 ) The other powers, functions and duties of the Control Board shall be such as may be prescribed. ( 4 ) The Control Board shall carry out any directions, which may be issued by the State Government, from time to time, for effective and smooth implementation of the provisions of this Act. --- Section 7. Section 7.Disqualification and removal of nominated members. --- ( 1 ) A non-official member nominated under clause (b) of sub-section ( 2 ) of section 5 shall be disqualified for being nominated or for being continued as, a member, if such member,- ( a ) is convicted by a Criminal Court for an offence involving moral turpitude; or (b) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or ( c ) is an undischarged insolvent; or ( d ) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting as the member; or ( e ) is otherwise in the opinion of the Government, unsuitable to continue as a member. ( 2 ) The State Government may, remove a member who is found to be or has become, disqualified under sub-section ( 1 ), as the member of the Control Board : Provided that, no person shall be removed under clauses ( d ) and ( e ) of sub-section ( 1 ), unless that person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. --- Section 8. Section 8.Constitution of District Committee. --- ( 1 ) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette , constitute a District Devdasi Practice Control Committee (hereinafter referred to as "the District Committee"), for such District or Districts, as deemed fit, for the purposes of this Act: Provided that, the District Committee constituted for a district may have under its jurisdiction and work as the District Committee for more than one districts. ( 2 ) A District Committee shall consist of the following members, namely:- 1 [( a ) the Chief Judicial Magistrate or Additional Collector or Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad or the Superintendent of Police, of the District, or any of the Districts, for which a common District Committee is constituted, to be appointed by the Government ... Chairman;] (b) three persons to assist the Chairman, who shall be the persons of ability, integrity and standing and have adequate knowledge and experience of dealing with the problems relating to exploitation of women, to be nominated by the State Government, of whom at least one shall be a woman, nominated in consultation with the State Women's Commission .... Members ( c ) the District Women and Child Development Officer.... Ex-officio Member-Secretary ( 3 ) The term of office of the members of every District Committee shall be of five years from its constitution. ( 4 ) No act or proceeding of the District Committee shall be invalid by reason only of a vacancy therein, or any defect in the nomination of any member, if such act or proceeding is otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Act. ( 5 ) Appointments made, from time to time, as members under clause (b) of sub-section ( 2 ) shall be published in the Official Gazette . ( 6 ) The District Committee shall meet at such time and place, as the Chairman of such Committee may think fit and shall, observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of its business as may be prescribed. ( 7 ) The members nominated under clause (b) of sub-section ( 2 ) shall receive such fees and allowances as may be prescribed. ( 8 ) The provisions of section 7 regarding the disqualification and removal of the non-official members nominated by the State Government shall, mutatis mutandis , apply to the members of a District Committee, nominated under clause (b) of sub-section ( 2 ). --- Section 9. Section 9.Powers, functions and duties of District Committee. --- The powers, functions and duties of the District Committee shall be as follows, namely:- ( 1 ) For the purposes of this Act, the Committee shall have,- ( a ) all the powers of a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely :- (i) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; ( ii ) requiring the discovery and production of any document; ( iii ) receiving evidence on affidavits ; ( iv ) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any Court or office ; ( v ) issuing Commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents ; and ( vi ) such other matters as may be prescribed. (b) the power to carry out or empower search of any premises where a woman is or is believed to have been confined, for being dedicated as or on having been dedicated as a Devdasi or where the commission or preparation for the commission of an offence under this Act is or is believed to be going on, and the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to searches and seizures shall apply, as far as may be, to the searches and seizures under this sub-section. ( 2 ) To pass appropriate orders in any matter in respect of any Devdasi being considered by it, regarding the custody and rehabilitation of such Devdasis by fixing the responsibility in respect of rehabilitation by any person or institution responsible for the commission of the offence, of dedication under this Act, independent of the action if any, of prosecution of such offenders initiated or to be initiated under section 11 of the Act. ( 3 ) To award in deserving cases, a maintenance allowance, in accordance with Government scheme to avoid destitution and to rehabilitate such Devdasis . ( 4 ) To undertake various measures for eradication of the practice of Devdasis , and protection and rehabilitation of the Devdasis in accordance with the Government schemes or schemes of local self-Government or any other Government agencies, as may be prescribed. ( 5 ) To recommend appointment of an administrator for any charitable trust where the Managing Committee of such trust has been found to be guilty, by the Committee of the offence of dedication under this Act, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force and also for suspension of any member of the trust individually or for the entire Trustee Committee found to be guilty of the commission of any offence under this Act, as the case may be. ( 6 ) To pass any order which it deems fit for the fulfillment of the object of this Act. ( 7 ) To perform such other functions and duties as may be prescribed. --- Section 10. Section 10.Devdasi Prevention Officers. --- ( 1 ) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette , appoint for the whole State or such part or parts thereof as may be specified in that notification, an officer or officers to be known as Devdasi Prevention Officer. ( 2 ) It shall be the duty of the Devdasi Prevention Officer (i) to detect and prevent the contravention of, the provisions of this Act by any person in the area of his jurisdiction, by taking such action under this Act as he deems fit; and to report such cases to the concerned District Committee ; ( ii ) to collect evidence for the effective prosecutions of persons contravening the provisions of this Act; and to report the same to the concerned District Committee; and ( iii ) to discharge such other functions as may be assigned to him by the State Government, the Control Board and the District Committee; and to work in co-ordination with the Control Board and concerned District Committee. ( 3 ) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette , invest the Devdasi Prevention Officer with such powers of a Police Officer as may be specified in the notification and the Devdasi Prevention Officer shall exercise his powers subject to such limitations and conditions as may be specified in the notification. ( 4 ) Each Devdasi Prevention Officer shall associate with the non-official members of the concerned District Committee and work in co-ordination with them. --- Section 11. Section 11.Offences and penalties. --- ( 1 ) Any person who, after the commencement of this Act,- ( a ) performs, permits takes part in or abets, or who, allows in the premises under his control, the performance of any ceremony or act of dedication of a woman as a Devdasi shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years but which shall not be less than two years and with a fine, which may extend to fifty thousand rupees but which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees : Provided that, when the offence under clause ( a ) is committed by the parents or relatives of the woman such as brother, sister, uncle or aunt, the offender or offenders shall, on conviction be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to five years but which shall not be less than two years and with a fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees but which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees; and (b) propagates the practice of Devdasi shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years but which shall not be less than one year and with a fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees but which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees. ( 2 ) Any other contravention or violation of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder or orders, if any, issued by the Control Board or District Committee under the provisions of this Act shall, constitute an offence under this Act and the person guilty of such contravention or violation shall be liable to be prosecuted, and on conviction, punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months and fine which may extend, to ten thousand rupees. --- Section 12. Section 12.Cognizance of offence. --- ( 1 ) All offences under sub-section ( 1 ) of section 11, except offences under sub-section ( 2 ) of the said section shall be cognizable and non bailable. ( 2 ) No Court inferior to that of the Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate, First Class, shall try any offence under this Act. --- Section 13. Section 13.Limitation not to apply for taking cognizance. --- Nothing in Chapter XXXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) shall apply to any offence under this Act. --- Section 14. Section 14.Procedure to be followed in tiral. --- Every Court trying the offence under this Act shall, as far as possible dispose of the case on priority and shall adopt the summary procedure. --- Section 15. Section 15.Copy of information by police to be forwarded to District Committee. --- ( 1 ) It shall be the duty of the Police Officer incharge of a Police Station who has received any information regarding the Commission of an offence under the provisions of this Act to forward a copy of that information forthwith to the concerned District Committee. ( 2 ) The District Committee, on receiving such information, in co-ordination with the Devdasi Prevention Officer, take all necessary follow up actions in such matter to ensure that the culprits are brought to book and they are prosecuted and punished for the commission of the offence under this Act. --- Section 16. Section 16.Copy of judgment to be forwarded to District Committee. --- ( 1 ) Every Court, wherein a case filed has resulted in conviction of the accused under this Act, shall, by order direct that a copy of the judgement or as the case may be, the final order thereof, shall forthwith be forwarded to the concerned District Committee. ( 2 ) It shall be the duty of the concerned District Committee, in co-ordination with the Devdasi Prevention Officer to take necessary follow up actions to ensure due compliance with the Court orders by all concerned. ( 3 ) The District Committee shall, every three months review all cases within its area of jurisdiction for ensuring due implementation of the Court orders by all concerned and shall submit a compliance report to the Control Board and to Government in the Women and Child Development Department. --- Section 17. Section 17.Publication of fact of conviction, etc. --- ( 1 ) Where any person is convicted of any offence punishable under this Act, it shall be competent for the Court convicting the person to cause the name and place of residence of such person to be published by the police in the local newspaper where such Devdasi dedication had taken place together with the fact that the offender had been convicted and punished for such offence with such other particulars as the Court may consider to be appropriate in the circumstances of the case. A copy of such publication may be sent by the police to the Commissioner, Women and Child Development, Maharashtra State, Pune. ( 2 ) No publication under sub-section ( 1 ) shall be made until an appeal (if any) filed against such order has been finally disposed of. --- Section 18. Section 18.Public servants. --- Every member of the Control Board and of the District Committee, and the Devdasi Prevention Officer shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). --- Section 19. Section 19.Protection of action taken in good faith. --- No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Government, any officer or the authority of the Government or any person for anything which is done, or intended to be done in good faith under this Act or rules made thereunder. --- Section 20. Section 20.Power to make rules. --- ( 1 ) The State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette , and subject to the condition of previous publication, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. ( 2 ) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, and notify such decision in the Official Gazette , the rule shall, from the date of such notification, have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case may be; so, however that, any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule. --- Section 21. Section 21.Removal of difficulty. --- ( 1 ) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette , do anything not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of removing the difficulty : Provided that, no such order shall be made under this sub-section after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. ( 2 ) Every order made under sub-section ( 1 ) shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature. --- Section 22. Section 22.Repeal and saving. --- ( 1 ) The Bombay Devdasis Protection Act, 1934 (Bom. X of 1934) is hereby repealed. ( 2 ) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under or in pursuance of the said Act before such repeal, shall continue to have effect and section 7 of the Bombay General Clauses Act, 1904 (Bom. 1 of 1904), shall apply with respect to the repeal of the said Act.