In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court has ordered the state government to immediately identify and shut down clinics operated by quacks. The directive was issued by Justice M. Nagaprasanna after dismissing a petition by AA Muralidharswamy, who ran the Sri Lakshmi Clinic in Modur, Mandya district. Muralidharswamy, who holds only an SSLC certificate and a diploma in community medical services, had sought registration for his clinic under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007.

The court noted that Muralidharswamy had failed to provide valid medical qualifications to practice any stream of medicine, such as allopathy, Ayurveda, or Unani, despite multiple opportunities to do so. His only credential was a dubious certificate from the Indian Board of Alternative Medicine, which lacked any proper medical qualification.

Justice Nagaprasanna strongly criticized the practice of unqualified individuals posing as doctors, especially in rural areas, where they put people’s lives at risk. He pointed out that such clinics were proliferating unchecked and called for immediate state action to shut them down.

The court directed the health department to investigate and take action against clinics operated by unqualified individuals, with a report to be submitted in court.