–A.S. Santhosh
On 26 May 2019, a tragic incident unfolded in Bellampalli, Mancherial district, Telangana, where a young man suffering from severe fever was brought by his mother to Calvary Ministries Church. Girishetti Mangamma, a poor woman, believed the pastor’s prayers could heal his 21 year old son Rajesh. Initially, Rajesh was instructed by pastors to sit within the church and participate in ongoing prayers, placing his right palm on his head. However, as his condition deteriorated, efforts to admit him to a hospital were obstructed by the pastors, ultimately leading to his untimely death due to worsening health. Though a case was registered under sections 304-II r/w 420 r/w 34 IPC based on the complaint of Girishetti Mangamma, the case was closed as both parties were ‘compromised’.
Fast forward to 2023, on 25 August, a similarly tragic event occurred when a young man traveled over 200 kilometers from Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, with his deceased mother’s body to Calvary Ministries. His belief was that Pastor Praveen Kumar could miraculously revive her by touching her head.
These incidents involving Pastor Praveen Kumar have sparked significant controversy, with accusations of exploiting vulnerable individuals through false promises of healing and miracles. They underscore the dangers associated with blind faith and superstition prevalent among less educated, impoverished, and marginalized communities.
Calvary Ministries in Bellampalli has transformed into a hub for promoting superstitions and unfounded beliefs, overshadowing modern medical sciences and scientific health practices. Gullible individuals are enticed to convert to Christianity through displays of miracle cures. Additionally, they are coerced into donating substantial amounts of cash, goods, including gold ornaments, and giving special gifts to pastors and their spouses on special occasions. This persuasion often includes subtle allusions to divine retribution if they fail to comply.
Despite legal action taken by local authorities against the pastors involved, the underlying issues of superstition and exploitation persist, continuing to impact vulnerable communities. These incidents reveal the level of exploitation of vulnerable individuals by so-called miracle healers, who offer false hope instead of motivating and encouraging them to seek legitimate medical treatment from hospitals.
Recently, in another gruesome case, FIR has been registered against the pastors of Calvary Ministries by the Kasipet police under sections 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. This case alleges that Pastor Praveen Kumar and his wife Sharon subjected a minor girl to cruelty under the guise of miracle healing. In a video uploaded to Pastor Praveen Kumar’s YouTube channel on May 16, 2024, they claimed to have healed a girl who was undergoing treatment for kidney failure.
Shockingly, despite medical warnings, the girl was brought from the intensive care unit (ICU), to Pastor Praveen Kumar’s healing session where she was coerced into activities against medical advice. The incident prompted the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) to notify the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which instructed the Mancherial District Collector and the Deputy Commissioner of Police to file an FIR and submit an action report within three days.
The Child Protection Department in Mancherial is actively investigating the current health status and whereabouts of the girl involved in this distressing incident.
The Kasipet police have registered an FIR under IPC Section 420 along with Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. However, the question remains why sections of the Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954, which directly relate to the incident, were not included in the FIR.
What does Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 says?
The Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 is an Indian legislation that regulates the advertisement of drugs in India. Its primary objective is to prevent misleading advertisements regarding drugs and magic remedies. The Act aims to protect the public from false claims and promote genuine healthcare practices.
Section 3 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, outlines specific restrictions on the advertisement of drugs:
- Section 3(a): Prohibits the publication of any advertisement that suggests or leads to the use of a drug for the purpose of procuring miscarriage in women or preventing conception in women.
- Section 3(b): Prohibits advertisements that suggest or lead to the use of a drug for enhancing human sexual pleasure.
- Section 3(c): Prohibits advertisements that suggest or lead to the use of a drug for correcting menstrual disorders in women.
- Section 3(d): Lists a schedule of diseases for which advertisements suggesting or leading to the use of drugs are prohibited.
These provisions aim to regulate and prevent misleading advertisements that promote drugs for purposes that may be harmful, unethical, or unsupported by scientific evidence. The Act ensures that advertisements related to drugs adhere to ethical standards and do not mislead consumers regarding their efficacy or intended use.
Section 5 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 prohibits the advertisement of magic remedies for the treatment of certain diseases and disorders. The section states: “No person carrying on or purporting to carry on the profession of administering magic remedies shall take any part in the publication of any advertisement referring to any magic remedy which directly or indirectly claims to be efficacious for any of the purposes specified in section 3.”
Penalty Provisions: Section 7 of the said act deals with penalty provisions which clearly says: “–Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act [or the rules made there under] shall, on conviction, be punishable —
(a) in the case of the first conviction, with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with
fine, or with both;
(b) in the case of a subsequent conviction, with imprisonment which may extend to one year, or
with fine, or with both
Earlier Case: Pastors and his wife externed from North Goa for six months
In January 2024, Goa police arrested Pastor Domnic D’Souza and his wife Joan Mascarenhas for their involvement in offences related to magic remedies and for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. An FIR was registered against them under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295A (punishment for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), and 506(ii) (criminal intimidation), read with Section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, they were charged under Sections 3, 4, and 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
Following the arrest, the Goa Police requested the North Goa district magistrate to initiate externment proceedings against Pastor Domnic D’Souza and Joan Mascarenhas from the jurisdiction of North Goa district for a period of six months, effective immediately.
In situations like these, where such atrocities are committed under the guise of religion, there is an urgent need for stringent laws that are currently absent. It is the responsibility of governments to enforce even the slightest existing laws strictly to protect the people from falling victim to superstitions.
(Writer is an activist and president of the Legal Rights Protection Forum)
Arise Bharat 
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