Section 3 in Telangana Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Rules, 2016
3. Dedication as Devadasi is Unlawful.
- 3.1. Notwithstanding any custom or law to the contrary, the dedication of a woman as Devadasi whether before or after the commencement of this Act she has consented to such dedication or not is hereby declared unlawful and void, and any woman so dedicated shall not thereby be deemed to have become incapable of entering into a valid marriage.3.2Any custom or usage, prevailing in any Hindu, such as the Bogum, Kalavanthulu, Sani, Nagavasulu, Devadasi, Kurmapulu, Basavi, Jogini, Mathamma and Parvathi and the like, that a woman of that community who gives or takes part in any melam (notch) dancing or music performance in the course of any procession or otherwise is thereby regarded as having adopted a life of prostitution and becomes incapable or entering into a valid marriage, and the performance of any ceremony of act in accordance with any such custom or usage, whether before or after the commencement of this Act and whether the woman concerned has consented to such performance or not are hereby declared unlawful and void.
