Devdasi Tradition in India: A Critical Socio-Legal Perspective
Since ancient times, many social evils have dominated Indian society, one of which is the Devadasi system. Although many practices have disappeared over time due to the development of wider scientific consciousness, these social evils prevailing in the 21st century are shameful to society. In the year 2019, a study on Devadasi practice was conducted by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Mumbai and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Bangalore. According to this study, even after a lapse of more than 40 years of the Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition of Surrender) Act, 1982, the state government is yet to issue rules for the operation of this law, which in some way helped in promoting this evil practice, is being proven. This research paper paints a grim picture of the apathetic approach of the legislature and enforcement agencies to crack down on the Devadasi system.
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