Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to the state govt on a petition challenging its order that stayed the registration of homeopathic practitioners who completed a course permitting them to practise allopathy.Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale also issued notices to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), the Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra), and the Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy. They will hear the matter on July 28.The petition, filed by Pune-based homeopath Dr Rashi Mordia, urged the HC to quash and set aside the Medical Education and Drug Department’s July 11 order. This order withdrew an April 24 direction to the MMC to maintain a register of homeopaths who completed a certificate course in modern pharmacology (CCMP). Mordia also sought quashing of the consequential notifications and communications.Mordia’s petition, filed through advocate Sagar Kursija, stated that CCMP was introduced in 2014 by an amendment to the Maharashtra Homeopathic Practitioners Act. The definition of ‘medical practitioner’ in the MMC Act was also amended to include a homeopath with CCMP. On a petition by the IMA (Pune), the HC in Dec 2014 refused to stay the amendments. In July 2015, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the HC’s interim order.The petition mentioned that the MMC did not maintain a separate register for homeopaths with CCMP. Following the state’s April 24 direction, on June 30, the MMC notified that it would start registrations. On July 1, the IMA wrote to the Chief Minister, stating that allowing homeopaths to practise allopathy might pose a threat to public health and patient safety. Consequently, on July 11, the state withdrew its April 24 direction, constituted a committee to submit a comprehensive report on the topic, and directed the MMC to immediately stop the registration of homeopaths with CCMP. Based on the July 11 order, the Food and Drugs Administration also suspended its December 2014 circular, which permitted the sale of medicines on the prescription of such homeopaths.Mordia’s petition argued that the state’s stay on registration amounts to an “overreach” of the High Court and Supreme Court orders. CCMP was introduced “to address the need for qualified health professionals, particularly in remote areas of Maharashtra.”Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to the state govt on a petition challenging its order that stayed the registration of homeopathic practitioners who completed a course permitting them to practise allopathy.Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale also issued notices to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), the Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra), and the Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy. They will hear the matter on July 28.The petition, filed by Pune-based homeopath Dr Rashi Mordia, urged the HC to quash and set aside the Medical Education and Drug Department’s July 11 order. This order withdrew an April 24 direction to the MMC to maintain a register of homeopaths who completed a certificate course in modern pharmacology (CCMP). Mordia also sought quashing of the consequential notifications and communications.Mordia’s petition, filed through advocate Sagar Kursija, stated that CCMP was introduced in 2014 by an amendment to the Maharashtra Homeopathic Practitioners Act. The definition of ‘medical practitioner’ in the MMC Act was also amended to include a homeopath with CCMP. On a petition by the IMA (Pune), the HC in Dec 2014 refused to stay the amendments. In July 2015, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the HC’s interim order.The petition mentioned that the MMC did not maintain a separate register for homeopaths with CCMP. Following the state’s April 24 direction, on June 30, the MMC notified that it would start registrations. On July 1, the IMA wrote to the Chief Minister, stating that allowing homeopaths to practise allopathy might pose a threat to public health and patient safety. Consequently, on July 11, the state withdrew its April 24 direction, constituted a committee to submit a comprehensive report on the topic, and directed the MMC to immediately stop the registration of homeopaths with CCMP. Based on the July 11 order, the Food and Drugs Administration also suspended its December 2014 circular, which permitted the sale of medicines on the prescription of such homeopaths.Mordia’s petition argued that the state’s stay on registration amounts to an “overreach” of the High Court and Supreme Court orders. CCMP was introduced “to address the need for qualified health professionals, particularly in remote areas of Maharashtra.”
