Cracking the whip against medical quacks, the Supreme Court on Tuesday banned the practice by thousands of “Ayurvedic” practitioners not having the valid certificates or diplomas from recognised institutions. The ban will apply to all “Vaidya Virsharad” or “Ayurved Ratna” awarded certificates or diplomas by the unrecognised institutions
after October 1, 1976, the cut-off-date fixed by Parliament for prohibiting practice by Ayurvedic practitioners without any valid degree or diploma.
The ban will affect thousands of Ayurvedic practitioners getting certificates or diplomas of Vaidya Visharad and Ayurved Ratna from Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (HSS), based in Prayag (Allahabad), a much sought after institution in the Hindi heartland. The number of such practitioners with HSS certificates could be gauged from the fact that they have formed strong associations in different states of the entire Hindi belt, including the national capital to fight the case for their recognition.
“It is held that a person who acquired the certificate, degree or diploma from the HSS after 1976 is not eligible to indulge in any kind of medical practice,” a bench of Justices B.S. Chauhang and Swatanter Kumar ruled.
The top court pointed out that Parliament had inserted “Entry-105” in second schedule of the Medical Council of India Act, fixing October 1, 1976 as the cut-off date for banning any ayurvedic practitioner not having a valid degree.