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D.K Joshi v. State Of U.P And Others
Factual and Procedural Background
The appellant filed a public interest writ petition before the High Court of Allahabad seeking a writ of mandamus compelling State authorities to take action against unqualified and unregistered individuals practising medicine in the district of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The High Court dismissed the petition in limine, merely observing that the Chief Medical Officer of Agra would complete a pending inquiry. The appellant challenged that dismissal in the present appeal. During the appeal, a single affidavit was filed on behalf of all State respondents, acknowledging the presence of unqualified practitioners but stating that some had ceased practice in Agra and allegedly moved to neighbouring districts.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the High Court erred in dismissing the public interest petition without issuing substantive directions to curb unauthorised medical practice in Agra.
- Whether broader, State-wide directions are necessary to address the continued practice of unqualified or unregistered medical practitioners in Uttar Pradesh.
Arguments of the Parties
The opinion does not contain a detailed account of the parties' legal arguments.
Table of Precedents Cited
No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The court took note of the following key considerations:
- Lack of denial of allegations: The respondents’ affidavit did not dispute the existence of unqualified practitioners; it merely asserted that some had relocated after identification.
- Administrative inaction: Despite the State Government’s earlier instructions, Chief Medical Officers only forwarded names of errant practitioners to District Magistrates without initiating follow-up legal action.
- Documentary evidence of prior concern: The court referred to a 3-5-1991 letter from the Indian Medical Council urging strict action, and a 2-12-1995 circular from the State’s Health Secretary highlighting statutory provisions—Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956; Section 17 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970; and Section 30 of the United Provinces Medical Act, 1917—for prosecuting unauthorised practitioners.
- Public health hazard: The court characterised the continued practice by unqualified persons as “hazardous to human life,” warranting immediate and comprehensive intervention.
- Need for State-wide relief: Because practitioners simply shifted districts when confronted, district-specific relief was deemed ineffective; only State-wide directives could rectify the problem.
On these grounds, the court set aside the High Court’s summary dismissal and crafted detailed mandamus-like directions to ensure enforcement throughout Uttar Pradesh.
Holding and Implications
Holding: The appeal is ALLOWED; the High Court’s judgment is set aside. The court issues binding directions to the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Uttar Pradesh, including: (i) identification and prosecution of all unqualified/unregistered medical practitioners State-wide within a prescribed timeline, (ii) monitoring of ensuing legal proceedings, (iii) public disclosure of offenders’ names, and (iv) ongoing supervision by the Secretary over District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers.
Implications: The decision obliges State authorities to undertake coordinated, State-wide enforcement against unauthorised medical practice, with specific administrative duties and timelines. The ruling directly affects the parties but does not articulate any novel legal precedent; its impact lies in compelling executive compliance with existing statutory frameworks to protect public health.
S.N Phukan, J.— The appellant filed a writ petition before the High Court of Allahabad in public interest praying for writ of mandamus directing the respondents to initiate action against persons who are unqualified and unregistered but carrying on medical profession unauthorisedly in the district of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The High Court by the impugned judgment dismissed the petition in limine with the observation that the Chief Medical Officer, Agra would complete the inquiry which was pending in accordance with law. The present appeal is against the said order of the High Court.
2. Though in the appeal, the State of U.P, the Director General, Medical and Health Services, U.P, the Additional Director, Medical and Health, Agra and the Chief Medical Officer, Agra have been impleaded as respondents, only one affidavit has been filed on behalf of all respondents by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Agra. In the reply-affidavit, the allegation that such unqualified persons are carrying on medical profession, is not denied. However, it has been stated inter alia that some such unqualified medical practitioners were identified and the reports were sent to the District Magistrate. According to the deponent such unqualified persons stopped medical practice in the district of Agra and have shifted to nearby districts. We are constrained to observe that the reply-affidavit discloses a sad state of affairs of the administration. Instead of taking action against these unqualified medical practitioners in accordance with law and as per the instructions of the State Government to which we shall presently refer, their names were only forwarded to the District Magistrate without any follow-up action by the authorities.
3. From the letter of the Indian Medical Council dated 3-5-1991, which is on record, we find that the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, State Government was apprised by the Medical Council of this problem in the State and it was emphasized in the said letter that these persons were openly playing with the health of the public. The Secretary was requested that “the public may be relieved by taking strict action against unqualified/unregistered practitioners and institutions which are providing illegal degrees in the Indian system of medicine”. The State Government was also concerned with this problem and the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department as far back as on 2-12-1995 addressed a letter to all the District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers of the State drawing their attention to the legal provisions for taking appropriate action against such unqualified/unregistered medical practitioners. In the letter attention was drawn to Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, Section 17 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and Section 30 of the United Provinces Medical Act, 1917. The District Magistrates and the Chief Medical Officers were also advised how to initiate criminal action against these unauthorised practitioners.
4. It is distressing to note that in spite of the above direction of the State Government, the District Magistrates and the Chief Medical Officers did not take effective steps to stop this menace which is hazardous to human life. As indicated above, the Chief Medical Officers only forwarded the names of such unauthorised medical practitioners to the District Magistrates and no follow-up action was taken.
5. In the present appeal, directions have been prayed for only for the district of Agra. In the reply-affidavit, it has been stated that such unqualified/unregistered doctors after being warned have shifted to other neighbouring districts. We are, therefore, of the opinion that unless directions are issued in respect of the entire State of U.P the problem cannot be solved. We set aside the impugned judgment and direct as follows.
6. The Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, State of U.P shall take such steps as may be necessary to stop carrying on medical profession in the State of U.P by persons who are unqualified/unregistered and in addition shall take following steps:
(i) All District Magistrates and the Chief Medical Officers of the State shall be directed to identify, within a time-limit to be fixed by the Secretary, all unqualified/unregistered medical practitioners and to initiate legal actions against these persons immediately;
(ii) Direct all the District Magistrates and the Chief Medical Officers to monitor all legal proceedings initiated against such persons;
(iii) The Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department shall give due publicity to the names of such unqualified/unregistered medical practitioners so that people do not approach such persons for medical treatment;
(iv) The Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department shall monitor the actions taken by all District Magistrates and all Chief Medical Officers of the State and issue necessary directions from time to time to these officers so that such unauthorised persons cannot pursue their medical profession in the State.
7. The appeal is allowed. No costs.
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