Karnataka Govt issues action against fake doctors and unregistered medical establishments
Action against quacks
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has issued a new circular directing strict action against fake doctors and medical establishments employing unqualified practitioners. The Health Department has reminded all district-level officers to enforce legal provisions that allow the state to prosecute such offenders.
According to the circular issued on November 11, 2025, anyone who is not registered under recognised medical councils, including allopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga, Naturopathy or homoeopathy, cannot practise medicine or claim to be a doctor. Anyone violating this rule can face heavy fines and even jail time.
For first-time offenders, the fine may go up to Rs 50,000. Repeated offences can lead to fines of up to Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment of up to three years.
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"Under Section 36 of the Act, a person who violates Sections 34 and 35 can be punished with a fine of up to ₹50,000 for the first offence, up to ₹2 lakh with or without one year of imprisonment for the second offence, and a fine of ₹5 lakh along with imprisonment of up to three years for every subsequent offence after conviction," mentions the circular.
A special task force has also been set up under Section 40(2) of the Act. This task force is responsible for inspecting unregistered or fake doctors, prosecuting them, and submitting a monthly report to the State Government. The team includes officials from the district administration, police, AYUSH department, legal experts, and social workers.
Medical establishments that employ fake or unqualified doctors are also liable for action. Since such establishments cannot obtain registration under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, they can be prosecuted under Section 19(1), which states that running a private medical establishment without registration can result in imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. If the offence continues even after conviction, the establishment can be fined an additional Rs 1 lakh per month, reads the circular.
Additionally, unregistered medical establishments can be fined up to Rs 50,000 by the Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority under Section 15(1) of the Act and may also face immediate closure.
Furthermore, any private medical establishment that violates provisions of the Act, its rules, or conditions of registration may face suspension or cancellation of registration under Section 15(5) of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh under Section 19(5).
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