Karnataka High Court Orders Crackdown On Clinics Run By Unqualified ‘Doctors’

Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has raised serious concerns over the rising number of unauthorized medical clinics operating across the state, particularly in rural areas, calling them a “serious threat” to public health.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who presided over the case, came down heavily on what he described as a worrying trend of unqualified individuals running medical establishments and misleading patients under the guise of being doctors.

“These individuals are endangering lives by posing as medical professionals without any formal qualifications,” the court observed, adding that the government’s apparent inaction amounted to “blissful ignorance.”

Government Told to Act, Report Back

The court directed that a copy of its order be sent to the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, with clear instructions to:

Identify and close down clinics being run by individuals without valid medical qualifications.

Submit a detailed action-taken report to the court.

The directive was issued while hearing a petition filed by A A Muralidharswamy, who had requested registration of his clinic under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007.

Petitioner Failed To Prove Medical Qualifications

However, the court found that Muralidharswamy held only a secondary school certificate (SSLC) and failed to produce any legitimate credentials from a recognized medical system. He submitted a certificate from the so-called Indian Board of Alternative Medicine and claimed to hold a Diploma in Community Medical Services, but the bench found these documents unconvincing.

The court also noted that he had been solely running the ‘Sri Lakshmi Clinic’ in Mandya district—acting as the practitioner, administrator, and support staff.

His lawyer admitted in court that Muralidharswamy had no training or qualifications in any formal branch of medicine, including Allopathy, Ayurveda, or Unani.

Calling the petitioner’s claim to be a doctor “misleading and unsubstantiated,” the court dismissed the petition and stated that clinics like his must be shut down as per the law.