163 Sl SR S e e AN T A THE MADHYA PRADESH REGULATION OF COUCHING ACT, 1944 (No. 2 of 1944) TABLE ‘OF CONTENTS : P.rvrrea‘m'b‘le Sections | : Page 1. Short title. _ | _ : 164 2 Meaning of registered practitioner. 164 3. Penalty for unlawful couching. | o 164 . 4, Penalty for a.betme'nt of offence. | 164 5. ‘Ofi‘e‘nce to be cognizable, bailable and compoundable. 165 6. Jurisdiction of Magistrates. 165 Cognizance of offences. \ - | . - 165
164 Short title. - Meaning of registered practitioner, Penalty for unlawful couching, Penalty for abetment of offence. डा THE MADHYA PRADESH REGULATION OF COUGHING ' ACT,1944 ' (No. 2 of 1944)1 {Received the assent of the Governor on the 268 March 1944; assent first published in the “Central Provinces and Berar Gazette” on the 31t March 1944.) An Act to prevent couching by unqualified persons, Preambls. - Whereas it is expedient to prevent couching. by unqualified persons; - And whereas the Governor of the Central Provinces and Berar has assumed to himself under the Proclamation, dated the 10th November 1939, issued by him under section 93 of the Govern- ment of India Act, 1935, all powers vested by or under the said Act in the Provincial Legislature ;2 Now, therefore, in exercise of the said powers, the Governor of the Central Provinces and Berar is pleased to make the following Act (— ः : ‘1. (1) This Act may be cited as the [Madhya Pradesh]3 Regulation of Couching Act, 1944, , [(2) It extends to and shall be inforce in the whole of Madhya Pradesh.]4 ' . . In this Act, the cxprcssiofi “registered practitioner”’ shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Central Provinces an Berar Medical Registration Act, 1916 (1 of 1916). ; . 3. Whoever, not being a registered practitioner, or not possessing a professional _pualifiction entitling him to be registered under the Central Provinees and Berar Medical Registra- tion Act, 1916 (1 of 1916), couches or attempts to couch or agrees or offers by physical means or interference with the eye to give vision to a person suffering from cataract, with or without that Person’s consent, shall on conviction, be punishable with 1mpriso- ment of either description for a term which may extend to S1X months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or *with both, 4. Whoever abets the commission of an offence under this Act shall, on conviction, be punishable with the punishment provided for the offence in section 3. 1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Central Provinces and Berar Gagette, dated the 2nd April, 1943, Part 11, page है. . 2. Tie whole Act has beeq continued aftar 26th April. 1948, vide provisions - of C. P. and Berar Act 48 of 1947, S. 2 (1). _ 3. Subs’ by M. P. Act 23 of 1958, S. 3 (4), for “Central Provinces and Berar™. 4. Subs, jbid, 8.3 (3), Sch, part A, item 43. '
THE MADHYA PRADESH REGULATION OF COUCHING ACT, 1944 165 5. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Offence to be cogai- Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898) an offence punishable under zable, bailable and this Act shall be cognizable and bailable and may be compounded compoundable. ' with the permission of the Court. , 6. (1) No Magistrate having powers inferior to that of the Jurisdiction of.Ma,gistrw, second class shall try any offence punishable under this Act. (2) A Magistrate may take cognizance of an offence undey Cognizance of offences. this Act— . (a) on a report of a police officer ; (b) on information of any other person; (c) upon his own knowledge or suspicion that such offence has been committed: o Provided that no cognizance shall be taken where the offence alleged was committed more than six month previously.