Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has ruled that 'Electro Homeopathy' is not recognised as an alternative system of medicine. Justice H G Ramesh passed the order by dismissing the petitions filed by two practitioners who had approached High Court challenging the order and had a notice issued against them that they are not qualified to practice medicine, and hence their medical clinics have been ordered to close.
The petitioners approached the court claiming that they were qualified to practice the Electro Homeopathy system of medicine as they were certified by the Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy and they also had other certifications.
“As could be seen from a division bench decision of this Court (High Court of Karnataka) in K.S.E. Homeopathy R & D Assn. v K.A. & U.P.Board, Electro Homeopathy is not recognised as an alternative system of medicine. In the decision, it is stated that the certificates issued by the Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, Bangalore, to practice the Electro Homeopathy system of medicine have been withdrawn pursuant to the order of the Central Government dated 25.11.2003,” the Court observed.
It further said that in Karnataka, the medical profession is regulated by the Karnataka Ayurvedic, Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani and Yoga Practitioners’ Registration and Medical Practitioners’ Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1961.
A plain reading of Section 34(1) of the Act shows that it prohibits all persons, not falling within the three categories referred to therein, from practicing any system of medicine for personal gain, the Court said.
On being asked by this Court, the advocate for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners do not fall under any of the three categories referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 34 of the Act. If that be so, the court said that petitioners are prohibited under Section 34(1) of the Act from practicing any system of medicine in the state of Karnataka. Hence, the order and the notice issued against the petitioners do not warrant interference, the court ordered while dismissing the petition.
