TN prohibits exorcism in temples

‘‘All officers of the department and religious institutions are public servants and they are duty-bound to protect human dignity and decency by not allowing any kind of practice which is irreligious and denigrating women folk in particular in the name of exorcism,’’ the circular said.

According to SHRC member S. Sambandham, the ‘‘patients’’ who assembled in the temples would shake their heads in order to cajole the ‘‘spirit’’ to speak out. The priest would then pull the patients’ hair in order to ‘‘drive the spirit out’’ of their bodies. The ‘‘evil spirit’’ would ask them to provide arrack, cigars and hens.