The legal framework pertaining to alternative medicine in India has been the subject of major discussion and clarification following the recent verdict rendered by the Allahabad High Court concerning the practice of Electro Homeopathy in Uttar Pradesh. Judges Om Prakash Shukla and Vivek Chaudhary’s ruling came in response to a writ case that people had filed asking for permission to practice electrohomeopathy in Uttar Pradesh.
The petitioners were able to practice Electro Homeopathy in numerous Indian states after receiving certificates from the Count Mattei Association, but in Uttar Pradesh, they were subject to limitations since the state did not have any laws pertaining to this particular profession. They contested the 2003 directive from the Union of India and the 2004 directive from the Uttar Pradesh government, claiming that their credentials permitted them to work in other states.
The applicants’ attorney cited a 2011 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ruling that made it clear that although the Standing Committee of Experts of the Central Government had not approved Electro Homeopathy as an alternative medicine, its practice and teaching were not prohibited. This order also made it clear that while schools were still allowed to undertake research and provide instruction within certain bounds, they could not provide degrees or certificates in unapproved alternative medicine programs.
This nuanced understanding was reflected in the court’s decision. It stated that while there are no legal requirements in India for awarding degrees or diplomas in electrohomeopathy, it is nonetheless permissible to issue certificates for these kinds of studies. Therefore, practitioners could continue to practice Electro Homeopathy in accordance with the 2003 order’s rules, even though institutions were no longer able to award official diplomas or degrees.
The court’s ruling made clear that electrohomeopathy might be used as an alternate form of treatment provided that it wasn’t outlawed by appropriate authorities. In order to protect the petitioners’ right to perform electrohomeopathy in Uttar Pradesh, it further instructed authorities not to impede with their business.
Overall, the ruling clarifies the legal status of electrohomeopathy in Uttar Pradesh and emphasizes the need of abiding by current regulations while permitting practitioners to carry on with their work within predetermined bounds.
SOURCE:
MEDICAL DIALOGUES
