Shut down clinics run by quacks: HC

Bengaluru: The high court directed the govt to immediately identify clinics run by quacks and shut them down. Justice M Nagaprasanna issued this direction recently while dismissing a petition filed by AA Muralidharswamy.
The petitioner, who is SSLC pass with a diploma in community medical services with essential drugs, set up Sri Lakshmi Clinic in Modur, Bookanakere hobli, KR Pete taluk, Mandya district, and practised for the past 15 years. He approached the high court, seeking a direction to accept his application dated March 25, 2024, for registration of his clinic under Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007.
Justice Nagaprasanna, after reviewing the materials on record, including the application filed by Muralidharswamy, noted that the petitioner addresses himself as a doctor. "He is the proprietor of Lakshmi Clinic, he is the administrator of Lakshmi Clinic and he is a full-time employee of Lakshmi Clinic. There is no other staff in the clinic," the judge added.
Justice Nagaprasanna pointed out that the matter was adjourned on three occasions to enable Muralidharswamy to produce certificates that would show his qualification to practise any stream of medicine. However, he failed to do so. On a pointed query by the court, counsel appearing for Muralidharswamy candidly accepted that the petitioner is only SSLC pass and hasn't secured qualification in any stream — either ayurveda, allopathy or Unani — that would give him the right for registration under the act.
The only certificate that the petitioner holds is said to have been issued by Indian Board of Alternative Medicine on Jan 9, 2001, and the certificate does not inspire any confidence as there is no qualification indicated in it, the judge observed.
"These quacks who project themselves to be doctors are endangering the lives of innocent rural people by opening clinics in remote areas and hoodwinking them. Such instances have grown exponentially, resulting in the mushrooming of clinics all over, opened by persons projecting themselves to be doctors. It is incomprehensible how the state is in blissful ignorance towards proliferation of such clinics without initiating any action. Therefore, it is for the state govt to immediately act, identify such clinics and shut down those run by quacks, like the case at hand, all in accordance with the law," the judge pointed out.
Returning to the case, the judge said it is clear that the petitioner, being an SSLC pass, cannot call himself a doctor, much less practise as one. "Therefore, no relief of the kind sought by the petitioner can be granted. The registry is directed to submit this order to the secretary of health and family welfare for appropriate action on clinics being run by persons who are not qualified in any stream of medicine. The action-taken report should be filed before the registry in this court," the judge observed.