Karnataka HC orders state govt to identify, act against clinics run by quacks that are ‘endangering innocent lives’
The high court issued the order after the proprietor of a clinic in Mandya sought a direction to enable the registration of his clinic under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act.
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In this case, a Bengaluru firm, M Moser Design Associates, had approached the high court about the alleged targeting of some women employees using the Proton Mail service. (Express File Photo)The state government must identify and act against clinics run by quacks, the Karnataka High Court stated in a recent order, adding that such individuals “are endangering the life of innocent rural people, by opening clinics in remote areas and hoodwinking them”.
The order, passed by Justice M Nagaprasanna last month, was recently made available. It stated: “Such instances have grown exponentially, which has resulted in mushrooming of such clinics all over, opened by the persons projecting themselves to be Doctors. … it is for the State to immediately act, identify such clinics and pull the curtains down of those clinics, which are run by quacks like the case at hand…”
The high court made the observations in a case in which the proprietor of a clinic in Mandya district, A Muralidharswamy, had approached it seeking an order to enable the registration of his clinic under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act.
He stated that he had secured a certificate from the Indian Board of Alternative Medicine and also had a diploma in Community Medical Services.
While considering the petition, the court noted that Muralidharswamy had been practicing medicine for several years and referred to himself with the prefix “Dr”.
It also noted that the matter had been thrice adjourned to enable the petitioner to submit his medical qualifications, if any.
Based on the statements of the petitioner’s counsel, the bench said: “…the petitioner is only an SSLC and has not secured qualification in any stream, either Ayurveda, Allopathy or Unani, that would give him a right for registration under the Act or the Rules. The only certificate that the petitioner holds is a certificate said to have been issued by the Indian Board of Alternative Medicine… The certificate does not inspire any confidence, as there is no qualification indicated.”
The court concluded by dismissing the petition, observing that the petitioner could not call himself a doctor or practice as one. The order was also forwarded to the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare for action against clinics run by unqualified persons.
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