The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition that sought to challenge a notification issued by the Tamil Nadu Homeopathy Medical Council calling upon practitioners to renew their registration certificates. The court upheld the council's move, stating it was in line with the governing law.
Petitioner's Challenge to Renewal Process
The petition was filed by G P Hahnemann, a registered homeopathy medical practitioner. He contested a notification dated September 23, 2025, issued by the Tamil Nadu Homeopathy Medical Council. This notification called for applications from practitioners to renew their registration certificates before the expiry of five years from the date of issue, warning of penalties and possible cancellation for non-compliance.
The core of the petitioner's argument was that the notification was published based on a decision made by the council's executive committee. However, the petitioner's counsel contended that on the date the decision was taken, no proper executive committee was in place. Only nominated members were present, and the counsel argued that an ad hoc committee of such nominated members lacked the authority to implement Regulation 9 of the National Commission for Homeopathy (Manner of Preparation and Maintainability of National Register for Practitioner of Homeopathy) Regulation 2022.
Court's Rationale for Dismissal
A division bench comprising Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan heard the case and rejected the petitioner's submissions. The bench provided a clear rationale for its decision.
The judges observed that the process of electing executive committee members for the state council could only commence after preparing a list of registered homeopathy practitioners. Therefore, the step taken by the ad hoc committee to prepare and maintain the register of eligible practitioners was a necessary precursor.
The bench concluded that the decision of the ad hoc committee was in consonance with the provisions of the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act. Finding no legal infirmity in the council's notification, the court proceeded to dismiss the petition.
Implications for Homeopathy Practitioners
This ruling has significant implications for homeopathy practitioners in Tamil Nadu. With the court's dismissal, the Tamil Nadu Homeopathy Medical Council's notification stands valid. Practitioners must now ensure they comply with the renewal process as outlined in the September 2025 notification to avoid any adverse consequences regarding their registration status.
The judgment also reinforces the procedural authority of ad hoc committees within such regulatory bodies when acting in alignment with overarching national legislation, setting a precedent for similar administrative actions.
