Karnataka Cabinet Approves Legislation Granting Devadasi Children Right to Identify Fathers, Claim Property
The bill will be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of the State Legislature starting August 11.
Published : August 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM IST
Bengaluru: The kids of Devadasis in Karnataka will soon be empowered with the right to property and right to identify their fathers as the state government is all set to table a comprehensive bill in this regard in the Monsoon Session of the state legislature starting August 11.
The cabinet meeting held here on Thursday approved the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition and Rehabilitation) Bill 2025 among 17 other bills.
"The bill aims to conscientise society about the practice of dedicating women as devadasis, liberate oppressed devadasi women from all forms of exploitation, their children from social taboos through empowerment," said HK Patil, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, after the cabinet meeting.
The minister said the girls from deprived communities, who are dedicated to God under the Devdasi system, live in 15 districts of the state.
Among others, the bill primarily aims at doing away with the need for the father's name in application forms and official documents for children of devadasis.
"No child born to a devadasi shall be discriminated against on the basis that the father is unknown. The State shall ensure that no child is compelled to declare the name of their father when applying for key public goods such as education, health and identity cards, such as licenses, passport, ration cards etc," the bill states.
The bill also provides the child of a devadasi the right to ascertain the identity of the father and also the right to his property.
"Children of devadasis can ascertain their right by way of an application before the taluka committees for recognition of their parental bond. If the father refuses to acknowledge parental relationship, the children may approach the district court. The courts are empowered to order for a DNA test on the father," the bill states.
The Bill also empowers the child of a devadasi to seek maintenance from the father under existing laws. If the child is male, he can claim maintenance till he attains majority, and in case of a girl until she attains majority or is married.
The comprehensive bill is drafted with the assistance of the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, National Law School of India University (NLSIU).
The bill proposes to increase the imprisonment term to a maximum of five years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for those performing, permitting, taking part or abetting the performance of any ceremony or act for dedicating women as a Devdasi.
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