OHRC Declares Use of ‘Dahani’ a Criminal Offence, Calls for Stronger Witch-Hunting Law
The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has ruled that the use of the word “Dahani”—a derogatory term meaning witch—should be treated as a criminal offence under state law.
The declaration came while hearing a case from 2018, in which the Commission reviewed the Odisha Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 2013, and the Composite Action Plan of 2014.
Despite existing legislation, witch-hunting continues to plague certain regions of Odisha, exposing victims—mostly women—to inhuman treatment, displacement, and social boycott.
The OHRC observed that current laws lack effective provisions to eliminate superstitious practices and fail to address issues such as forced exclusion from communities.
The Commission emphasized that victims of witch-hunting are often left without safeguards, allowing the practice to persist.
It recommended that the law be made gender-neutral, with stronger focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and restoration of justice.
In its directive, the OHRC asked the Home Department and the Women and Child Development Department to jointly revise the Composite Action Plan to ensure stricter enforcement and better protection for victims.
This landmark ruling is expected to strengthen Odisha’s fight against witch-hunting and reinforce the state’s commitment to human rights.
