The KARNATAKA KORAGAS (PROHIBITION OF AJALU PRACTICE) ACT, 2000

THE  KARNATAKA  KORAGAS  (PROHIBITION OF AJALU PRACTICE)  
ACT, 2000 
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
Statement of Object and Reasons 
Sections : 
 1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
 2. Definitions. 
 3. Prohibition of Ajalu Practice. 
 4. Penalty. 
 5. Protection of action taken in good faith. 
 6. Power to make rules. 
 7. Repeal and savings. 
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STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS 
  Act 30 of 2000.- Koragas who belong to primitive tribes of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi 
districts are illiterate and superstitious.  Using se rvice of Koragas for Ajalu Practice exists in 
certain parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts. 
 Ajalu practice includes differentiating betwe en Koragas and persons  belonging to other 
communities, treating them as inferior human being s, mixing hair, nails or any other inedible or 
abnoxious substance in the food and asking them to  eat that food and to make them to run like 
buffaloes before the begining of Kambala.  These practices amount to exploitation of Koragas 
and treating them as slaves and thus offends human dignity.  Refusal to practice Ajalu voluntarily 
may render the life of Koragas extremely difficult.  Therefore, it is considered necessary to bring a 
suitable legislation to prohibit Ajalu practice and make it punishable under law. 
 Hence the Bill. 
 (Obtained from L.A. Bill No. 18 of  2000) 
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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 30 OF 2000 
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extraordinary on the thirteenth day of 
December 2000) 
THE  KARNATAKA  KORAGAS  (PROHIBITION OF AJALU PRACTICE) ACT, 2000 
(Received the assent of the Governor on the tenth day of December, 2000) 
 
 An Act to provide for the prevention of  using the services of Koragas for Ajalu 
practice in some parts of the State of Karnataka. 
 W HEREAS  using  services of Koragas  for  Ajalu practice exists in certain parts of the 
State of Karnataka specially in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts; 
 A ND WHEREAS such practice amounts to exploitation of Koragas and treating them as 
slaves and which offends human dignity; 
 A ND WHEREAS it is expedient to put an end to such practice; 
 B E it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the fifty first year of the Republic 
of India, as follows:- 
 1. Short title, extent and commencement.-  (1) This Act may be called the 
Karnataka  Koragas  (Prohibition of Ajalu Practice) Act, 2000. 
 (2) It extends to the whole  State of Karnataka. 
 (3) It shall be deemed to have come into force with effect from the seventeenth day 
of August 2000. 
 2. Definitions. -  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 
 (a) “Ajalu practice “ means,  perfo rmance of any act or ceremony,-  
  (i) differentiating between Koragas and persons belonging to other communities 
by paying no wages or lesser wages to  Koragas for using their service;  
  (ii) treating Koragas as inferior human beings as compared to others; 
  (iii) mixing hair, nails or any other  inedible or abnoxious substance in the food  
and asking Koragas to eat that food; 
  (iv) driving Koragas to run like buffaloes before the beginning of  Kambala. 
 (b) ‘Kambala‘ means buffalo race in marshy  land; 
 (c) “Koraga” means an Adivasi Tribal person belonging to Koraga Community of any 
age. 
   3. Prohibition of  Ajalu Practice .- Notwithstanding anything contained in any law , 
custom, usuage or practice by whatever name  called, no person shall use the services 
of a Koraga  for Ajalu practice  with or without his consent. 
 4. Penalty.- Any person who, after the commencement of this Act, uses or abets 
the using of the services of a Koraga for  Ajalu practice shall on conviction be punishable 
with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but, which may 
extend up to five years and with a fine not exceeding five thousand rupees. 
 5. Protection of action taken in good faith .-  No suit, prosecution, or other legal 
proceedings shall lie against the Government or any person for any thing which is done  
or intended to be done in good faith under this Act. 
 3
 6. Power to make rules.- (1) The State Government by notification,  after previous 
publication may  make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 (2) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made 
before each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period of 
thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive 
sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or 
successive sessions, both Houses agree in making any modification in any such rule or  
both Houses agree that the rule  should not be made, or issued, the rules  shall there 
after have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so,  
however, that such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of 
anything previously done under that rule.  
 7. Repeal and savings.-  (1) The Karnataka Koragas (Prohibition of Ajalu practice) 
Ordinance, 2000 (Karnataka Ordinance No.7 of 2000) is hereby repealed. 
 (2) Notwithstanding such repeal anything done or any action taken under the said 
Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act. 
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 (The above translation of the ‘йÑþ©‘Ð ‘Ù֤ЖФР(ƒ¡ÃÔ »Ð·Ðì´ ºÈÙÓ·°Ð) ƒ¸°º ¦ÐÔÀÐÔ,  2000       
(2000·Ð ‘йÑþ©‘Ð ƒ¸°º¦ÐÔÀÐÔ ÊЁ”Ùô 30) was published in the official Gazette    (Extraordinary) 
dated 26.2.2001 as No. 393 (Note: No. DPAL 19  Shasana 2000 dated 26.2.2001) under 
clause (3) of Article 348 of the Constitution of India.) 
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