(1) No person shall add to his name any title, description, letters or abbreviations which imply that he holds a degree, diploma, licence, or certificate or any other like award as his qualification to practise any system of medicine, unless,
(a) he actually holds such degree, diploma, licence or certificate or any other like award, and
(b) such degree, diploma, licence or certificate or any other like award,
(i) is recognised by any law for the time being in force in India or in any part thereof, or
(ii) has been conferred, granted or issued by a body or institution referred to in sub-section (1) of section 32, or
(iii) has been recognised by the Medical Council of India.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, subject to the provisions of any special law for the time being in force, be punished, on conviction,
(i) for a first offence, with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees;
(ii) for a subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months ,or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees OB with both.
34. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter a person may, subject to the payment of such fees as may be prescribed, practise any system of medicine other than Homoeopathy in any rural area-
(a) if he has commenced practice in that system in any village in the said area prior to a date on which a practitioner registered under the Bombay Medical Act, 1912 or under the Bombay Medical Practitioners' Act, 1938 (or any law corresponding thereto) for the time being in force, has commenced, and is in regular practice in, medicine in that village, and
(b) so long as he continues to so practise in that village as his principal place of practice.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this section "rural area" means any local area, which was not within the limits of a municipal corporation, [municipal borough, municipal district, cantonment or notified area :—
(i) on the first day of March, 1939, if such local area forms part of the Bombay area of the State ;
(ii) on the first day of March,1951, if such local area forms part of the Saurashtra area of the State; or
(iii) on the 31st day of July 1949, if such local area forms part of the Kutch area of the State.
Explanation 2.—The term "notified area" in Explanation 1 means a notified area declared under the Bombay District Municipal Act, 1901 or the said Act as adapted and applied to Saurashtra area of the State.
35. All offences under this Act shall be cognizable.
36. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall be instituted against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act, or under the rules or by-laws made thereunder.
Prohibition against addition of any title, description etc., to name of any person, unless authorised to do so.
Liberty to practice in rural areas.
Bom. VI of 1912.
Bom. XXVI of
1928.
Bom. III of 1901.
Offences under Act to be cognizable.
Indemnity to persons acting under the Act.
Gujarat Medical Practitioners' Act, 1963 Guj: 1964 VI 20 of 27
CHAPTER VI.
MISCELLANEOUS.