Section 3 in Tamil Nadu Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act, 1947
3. Dedication as devadasi to be unlawful.
(1)The dedication of a woman as a devadasi, whether before or after the commencement of this Act and whether 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.Nothing contained in this sub-section shall be deemed to affect the operation of [section 34 of the [Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951 (Madras Act XIX of 1951)] [Substituted for the words, figures and letter 'section 44A' of the Madras Hindu Religious Endownments Act. 1926' by section 4 of, and the Third Schedule to the Tamil Nadu Repealing and Amending Act 1957 (Tamil Nadu Act XXV of 1957).]] or the rights to which a devadasi is entitled under that section.(2)Any custom or usage prevailing in any Hindu community such as the Bogum, Kalavanthula, Sani, Nagavasulu, Devadasi and Kurmapulu, that a woman of that community who gives or takes part in any melam (nautch), 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 of entering into a valid marriage and the performance of any ceremony or 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.(3)Dancing by a woman, with or without kumbhaharathy, in the precincts of any temple or other religious institution, or in any procession of a Hindu deity, idol or object of worship installed in any such temple or institution or at any festival or ceremony held in respect of such a deity, idol or object of worship, [xxx] [So far as the added territories are concerned the word 'or in any marriage procession or other procession taken out in public streets' and the Explanation were omitted by section 4 of and the second schedule to the Tamil Nadu (Added Territories) Extension of Laws Act, 1962 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1962)] is hereby declared unlawful.[xxx] [So far as the added territories are concerned the word 'or in any marriage procession or other procession taken out in public streets' and the Explanation were omitted by section 4 of and the second schedule to the Tamil Nadu (Added Territories) Extension of Laws Act, 1962 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1962)]
