Govt told to hurry up on Bill against quacks

The city government had introduced the Bill on August 28, 1997, in the Assembly after reports that as many as 30,000 quacks were practicing in the Delhi.

On March 11 last year, the bench, in an interim order on a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had said that those persons who were practicing without a recognised degree should be prosecuted.

Earlier, arguing for the city government, counsel Arvind Nigam said the Bill was pending before the Assembly, which was currently not in session.

However, counsel for the petitioner Devinder Singh had pointed out that evenas the government was introducing an anti-quackery Bill in the Assembly, the Chief Minister, while addressing a demonstration organised by quacks, had promised that no action would be taken against them. Nigam agreed with the court on the importance of enacting the anti-quackery law as the present legislation providing for a meagre fine of Rs 500 "is hardly a deterrent against quackery."

The government, he said, was not against the practice of a person in that sphere of medicine in which he has obtained a degree but it was of the firm view that there should be no cross-practicing: A person qualified in Ayurveda should not practice modern medicine.

A question was raised during the last hearing that a similar petition was pending before the Supreme Court, and whether in that event the high court should proceed with the matter.

Appearing for the national integrated medical association, advocate Pramod Gupta gave details of the issues pending before the apex court in connection with practice by quacks.

Petitioner’s counsel submitted that though specific information regarding alleged practice by over 500 quacks was given to the Delhi Police, the latter had taken action against only six.